Life Insurance

TOPEKA - About 14,000 poor Kansans continue to wait months for state health insurance as a processing center struggles to catch up with a paperwork backlog.

State Medicaid officials said the problem, now in its 10th month, doesn't appear to be easing. Lawmakers and the governor pledged on Tuesday another $1 million to continue working on the problem next budget year.

"Our staff has been working overtime to address this backlog. I have to believe that's led to frustration and to people giving up," said Andy Allison, state Medicaid director.

The delay is caused by a new federal rule that requires verification of each applicant's citizenship. Congress sought it to keep illegal immigrants from seeking Medicaid coverage.

From Kansas' experience so far, it appears an overreaction. It has instead left many U.S. citizens waiting for extended periods for the state to verify their paperwork.

"We have received literally hundreds and hundreds of applicants' phone calls and messages left with us," Allison said. "The stories are heart-breaking and we know it has an impact on health."

Some lack the means to get necessary copies of their birth certificate or other "foundation documents" proving they are citizens, officials said.

"That backlog is what we've really got to take care of," said House social services budget Chairman Bob Bethell, R-Alden, "so those in need of services are getting coverage rather than forcing them into emergency rooms and safety net clinics."

Kansas has been among the first states to recognize the problem. Allison is expected to join other states in speaking to Congress about it next week.

Additional funding of $1 million to speed up the processing won't come until the next budget year, which begins July 1. The money is expected to cut about three to six months off time needed to catch up.

In the meantime, staff has been re-assigned and funds have been reallocated within the state's Medicaid budget to work on cutting the waiting list.

Since the new rule went into place last July, the state has watched its Medicaid rolls drop by 18,000 to 20,000. That figure remains steady as of the end of March.

The state initially identified 4,000 people who couldn't produce necessary documents, but since then that groups has been whittled down to 2,000 who can't show proof of citizenship. Allison expects the number will decrease further.

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