Beneficiary Survey Design and Administration for Eligibility and Coverage Demonstration Evaluations

This guide is an overview of best practices in the design and administration of beneficiary surveys for use in evaluations of section 1115 Medicaid demonstrations. Beneficiary surveys are particularly important data sources for evaluating demonstrations with eligibility and coverage provisions. Recent section 1115 policies of this type include community engagement requirements, premiums or monthly beneficiary account contributions, non-eligibility periods as a consequence of noncompliance with program requirements, healthy behavior incentives, and waivers of retroactive eligibility. Surveys can yield rich information on beneficiaries’ understanding of and experiences with each of these policies. They can also help states assess changes in beneficiary outcomes over time, including for those who disenroll or transition to other coverage.