title: Can Medicaid managed care provide continuity of care to new Medicaid enrollees? An analysis of tenure on Medicaid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze duration of coverage among new Medicaid enrollees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 1991 Survey of Income and Program Participation was used to examined the duration of coverage for individuals who did not have Medicaid in January 1991 and obtained coverage by May 1993.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of new Medicaid enrollees, 38% (90% confidence interval [CI] = 34%, 42%) remained covered 1 year later; 26% (90% CI = 21%, 31%) remained covered at 28 months. Of those older than 65 years, 54% (90% CI = 31%, 77%) retained Medicaid for 28 months, vs 20% (90% CI = 14%, 26%) of children. Of people who lost Medicaid, 54% (90% CI = 31%, 77%) had no insurance the following month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost two thirds of new Medicaid recipients lose coverage within 12 months. It is unlikely that Medicaid managed care will enhance continuity of care for new recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cambridge Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Mass., USA. carraso@medicine1.cpmc.columbia.edu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carrasquillo
authors.forename: D U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Himmelstein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woolhandler
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States