Rising MSP Participation Signals Progress, but Significant Enrollment Gaps Remain

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help low-income Medicare beneficiaries afford essential health care by covering premiums and other out-of-pocket costs, yet millions of eligible individuals remain unenrolled. A new analysis from the Urban Institute, conducted in partnership with West Health and Aurrera Health Group, found that MSP participation has improved over the past decade. Despite this progress, more than one in three eligible individuals still do not receive these critical benefits, highlighting ongoing barriers to access and the need for continued policy action. 

This issue brief outlines several strategies that can help close remaining enrollment gaps, including adjusting financial eligibility policies to reduce barriers, simplifying and streamlining enrollment processes, leveraging existing federal data to automate enrollment, and coordinating targeted outreach. As states and federal policymakers continue efforts to improve affordability and access to care for older adults, expanding MSP participation remains a critical opportunity to strengthen financial security and health coverage nationwide.