Last month, I wrote a blog post on a report released on the continuity of coverage in Medicaid. This week, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans released an updated report on why continuity of coverage in Medicaid matters.

Continuity of coverage reduces cost and is the first step in getting quality health care. The typical Medicaid beneficiary is only covered four-fifths of the year. Although gaps are less common for children, it is a common problem among their parents. Disruptions in coverage may be caused by minor income changes, failure to periodically update records, and not renewing enrollment in a timely manner. When patients can not fill prescriptions or go to the doctor, they may delay care and become sicker.

Efforts to stabilize the continuity of Medicaid coverage can reduce gaps and the problems that come with the loss of health insurance. This will be especially important as Health Insurance Marketplaces open in the future. Extending 12-month continuous eligibility to adults can help Medicaid beneficiaries secure the health coverage they need.