Medi-cal Policy Institute

Under the existing Medi-Cal managed care program, enrollees are free to disenroll from their existing health plan at any time – with the disenrollment becoming effective on the first of the upcoming or ensuing month. States have the option, under provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), to restrict beneficiaries' latitude to voluntarily disenroll from their existing health plan. The Medi-Cal Policy Institute engaged The Lewin Group to evaluate the pros and cons of implementing this feature, known as "lock-in," in California. The report contains an overview of the BBA provisions; an overview of state experiences and perspectives; data analysis of a lock-in policy for Medi-Cal; and pros and cons, and policy considerations of a lock-in policy for Medi-Cal.

"Throughout the engagement, Lewin consultants listened to us and delivered superb analyses and thoughtful guidance–not canned solutions."  NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM