Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

Annual Insurance Update 2024: Health Insurance in Kansas
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2022 trends in coverage. Presents 2021 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S Wu, Kaci Cink, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
view details
North Carolina Medicaid Expansion: A Rural Perspective
Reports on expanded Medicaid coverage in rural North Carolina using state-level monthly enrollment data. Compares expansion enrollment in rural, suburban, and urban counties, and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Center
view details
Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 2020 through December 2021 School Meals Operations Study, Year 2 Report (Final)
Describes trends in Child Nutrition (CN) Program program participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 2020 through December 2021. Builds on a previous report that presents data on the number of meals served, operational and financial challenges of state agencies and local program operators, and the use of COVID-19 Child Nutrition nationwide waivers.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Liana Washburn, Veronica Severn, Brett Eiffes, et al.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Evaluation of the USDA Summer EBT Demonstrations: Lessons Learned From More Than a Decade of Research
Reports results of the Summer EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) demonstration project, 2015-2018 and 2019-2022. Describes Summer EBT use patterns, nutritional value, and effect on childhood food insecurity. Identifies strategies for better program planning, implementation, and administration. Discusses program operation and challenges in tribal organizations and rural communities.
Additional links: 2015-2018 Evaluation, 2019-2022 Evaluation, Summary
Author(s): René Nutter, Ayesha Enver, Maria Boyle, et al.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details
Closing the Coverage Gap: Policy Considerations for Public-Private Solutions to Expand Health Insurance in Georgia
Explores policy and funding considerations influencing the expansion of health insurance in Georgia, including current programs, population health and demographics, and Medicaid expansion models. Evaluates the suitability of the Arkansas "private option" expansion approach for Georgia, and discusses its implementation. Highlights rural concerns throughout.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Initiative
view details
Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2023 Focus Groups in Select States
Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and July 2023, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
Examining Increases in HUD Income Limits in Low-Income States
Examines households that are eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance across geographic areas. Provides information on how HUD calculates low-income households in nonmetro and metro areas and provides maps and figures depicting low-income families at the state and county level. Includes tables showing a state's nonmetro income median in relation to eligibility for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
view details
Medicare Advantage: It's Here, Now What?
Slides from a presentation at the 2024 National Rural Health Association's Policy Institute conference that discuss Medicare Advantage, with data on eligibility and enrollment percentages depicted for select states as well as by metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Keith J Mueller
Date: 02/2024
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa College of Public Health, Rural Policy Research Institute
view details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Equity Action Plan
Offers overview of strategies from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for increasing equity for veterans in benefits, health, access to VA services, economic security, and data. Highlights equity progress updates and accomplishments. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
USDA Overview of the IFR for Summer EBT and Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service in Rural Areas
Slides that provide an overview of the interim final rule (IFR) regarding the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) and non-congregate summer meals in rural areas.
Author(s): Kevin Maskornick, Jess Saracino, Anne Fiala
Date: 01/2024
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details