Medicaid
While Medicaid is a crucial lifeline for millions—providing essential healthcare to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities—but inefficiencies and fraud cost taxpayers billions each year.
Medicaid’s Hidden Costs: Fraud, Delays, and Complexity
Lengthy application processes, improper payments, and administrative burdens slow down aid for those who need it most.
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Factors such as incomplete applications, missing documentation, and varying state processing capabilities contribute to delays in Medicaid application approvals.
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Federal law mandates that Medicaid applications be processed within 45 days (or 90 days if a disability determination is required). However, data indicates that the average processing time is approximately 83 days.
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In 2024, Medicaid experienced approximately $31 billion in improper payments, including fraud, abuse, and waste.
State and federal leaders face the challenge of improving efficiency while maintaining program integrity.