October 2003

The Medicaid Buy-In Program: Quantitative Measures of Enrollment Trends and Participant Characteristics in 2002

The national Medicaid Buy-In program is part of an emerging system of initiatives designed to promote employment and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. Under the federal legislation, states can amend their Medicaid programs to enable individuals with disabilities to obtain coverage for basic medical care and for special services, such as personal assistance, that can help them engage in productive work. By making health insurance more available and affordable, policymakers hope to (1) give an incentive for individuals with disabilities to seek employment, (2) make it easier for workers with disabilities to maintain their employment, and (3) help individuals who now receive public assistance to move successfully into employment. These policy goals are shared by other federal and state initiatives that interact with the Buy-In program, including the Social Security Administrations (SSA) Ticket to Work and Benefit Outreach and Assistance Programs, the Department of Labors efforts to enhance the capacity of their one-stop centers to serve individuals with disabilities, and other components of the Administrations New Freedom Initiative.