Unmanaging Managed Care: The Challenges of Privatizing Medicaid in Illinois
Abstract Patients can face significant challenges when government administered Medicaid plans are transitioned to private Medicaid Managed Care (MMC). This is especially true for the homeless population, since transitioning to MMC shifts the responsibility of health insurance coverage to the individual by requiring them to “choose” their health insurance coverage and understand how the plans operate. In Illinois, enrollees are expected to use the state HealthChoice Illinois website to learn about MMC, evaluate their healthcare options, and select a MMC plan. This study provides an anthropological critique of this process. We collected data from focus groups with Medicaid enrollees, interviews with healthcare navigators, and reviews of MMC educational materials from the state of Illinois. Understanding new healthcare challenges that resulted from the transition to MMC will hopefully lead to the development of an improved educational and enrollment process.