2024 Edition: Account Creation and Identity Proofing in Online MAGI Medicaid Applications

On this page, we share data and observations about account creation, authentication, and identity proofing steps for online Medicaid applications.

The DBN has been researching digital identity for the past two years, and our interest in this topic is based on our belief that all applicants deserve application processes that help them receive essential, life-saving benefits in a timely, dignified way. 

The way state agencies structure online account creation processes and requirements for applicants and beneficiaries to prove who they are may impact whether and how quickly individuals can apply for and start receiving benefits. We believe that successful identity management for public benefits requires risk-based, human-centered evaluation of when identity proofing and authentication are necessary, thoughtful selection of methods, and integration of identity management into overall service design.

Because some states combine or integrate applications for multiple programs, this page includes data on a mix of standalone Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medicaid applications and integrated applications. For entries that include combined or integrated applications, our data demonstrates a claimant’s experience if they are applying for all available benefits – for example, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and MAGI Medicaid. We decided to approach data collection this way both for practicality and also to document the most comprehensive experiences for each application flow. 

We encountered several cases where non-MAGI Medicaid was included on the same portal as MAGI Medicaid or alongside other benefits applications. During our data collection process, however, we noticed that it was sometimes difficult to ascertain whether a given portal allowed users to apply for non-MAGI Medicaid. For this reason we did not include non-MAGI Medicaid as a benefits category in our dataset at this time. As context, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) explained previous federal rules that required states to allow MAGI-eligible groups to submit applications or forms online or over the phone, but did not require similar simplified processes for non-MAGI populations. (Non-MAGI pathways for Medicaid eligibility are based on old age or disability). However, a 2024 rule, Streamlining the Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Application, Eligibility Determination, Enrollment, and Renewal Processes, requires that all non-MAGI applications be accepted through the same channels available to MAGI applications. In our data collection, weWe also targeted online enrollment processes for MAGI Medicaid. 
The findings below outline our current understanding of online account creation and identity proofing requirements and practices for MAGI Medicaid.  You can also view the Digital Benefits Network’s data on account creation and identity proofing practices across core benefits programs.

High-level Findings

Integrated Applications

Many MAGI Medicaid applications are integrated and let people apply for multiple programs.

• Of the 53 online benefits applications we identified that include MAGI Medicaid, 32 are integrated applications that allow applicants to apply for at least one other program, such as SNAP, or SNAP and TANF. We identified one fewer application for MAGI Medicaid in 2024 than in 2023 because California previously had multiple applications and retired one of them.
  

Account Requirements

Most applications that include MAGI Medicaid require users to sign-in to submit an application.

• 41 out of the 53 (77%) applications that include MAGI Medicaid require users to sign-in or create an account to apply online. 12 others make account creation optional.
• Email address is required in 35 of the 53 optional or required account creation processes.
• 50 of the account sign-in processes for applications that include MAGI Medicaid incorporate some type of additional authentication or security measures. These most commonly include security questions, email validation links, or one-time authentication codes sent via email.

This map shows authentication requirements in online applications that include MAGI Medicaid across states. The color-coding on this map details whether applicants are required to have an account to submit an application. If you hover over an individual state on the map, you can also see whether the application’s account creation process incorporates additional authentication security measures, whether an email address is required to create an account if applicable, what type of account login is used (e.g., state single sign on), and what benefits programs are included on the application. A pattern overlay indicates which states’ accounts integrate with a state single sign-on or other external credentials.

Identity Proofing Requirements

• Just over half of applications that include MAGI Medicaid require or prompt applicants to take active identity proofing steps to apply online. As Symonne Singleton of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlined in 2024, there is no federal requirement for state agencies to implement identity proofing in Medicaid, unless an “online portal displays information obtained from confidential state or federal data sources directly to the applicant.”
• Identity proofing is required or prompted in 29 of the 53 applications that include MAGI Medicaid.
• 11 applications that allow users to apply for MAGI Medicaid require users to take active or front-end identity proofing steps in order to submit online. Seven of these applications place identity proofing before a user initiates an application. Four others require identity proofing during the application submission process. All 11 applications that require identity proofing steps use knowledge-based verification or KBV, and all use Experian for identity proofing.
• 17 other applications that allow users to apply for MAGI Medicaid include identity proofing prompts that are optional. This means a user can immediately skip the identity proofing prompt or, if their identity cannot be verified online, continue with the application. 11 of these 15 applications place optional identity proofing before a user initiates an application. Another seven place optional identity proofing prompts during the application submission. At least 16 of these applications use KBV for optional identity proofing, and at least 12 use Experian for identity proofing.

This map shows active identity proofing requirements in online applications that include MAGI Medicaid, across states. The color-coding on this map details whether applicants are required to take active steps to prove their identities as part of an online application process. If you hover over an individual state on the map, you can also see what identity proofing methods are being used if applicable or known, when during the application process identity proofing is used, and what benefits programs are included on the application.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Requested

Applications that include MAGI Medicaid often make it possible to submit online without having to disclose applicant Social Security numbers (SSNs).

• People applying for Medicaid are required to provide their SSN as a condition of eligibility. How questions about SSN are presented in applications that include MAGI Medicaid varies, however.
• On 34 applications that include MAGI Medicaid, it appears possible for applicants to submit online without disclosing their SSN. Three other applications explicitly describe providing SSN as optional or recommended. 
• On three application processes that include MAGI Medicaid, SSN appears to be required to submit online. On 13 other applications, SSN is required if an applicant indicates they have one.

Dataset

Account Creation and Identity Proofing in Online MAGI Medicaid Applications

Gallery View: Account Creation and Identity Proofing in Online MAGI Medicaid Applications

Questions?

As always, we’re eager for your feedback! Did we miss something when reviewing a state’s application? Do you have research questions you’d like us to try and answer using the information in this dataset? If so, email us at digID@georgetown.edu.

Data Collection: SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and Child Care Applications

We collected data on SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and child care applications between June 10 and October 15, 2024. After initial data collection, we conducted an internal review of each application entry to ensure accuracy and consistency. Our team spent approximately 75 to 90 minutes working with each application. We have also used the “Public notes” column in the dataset to document nuances and open questions. Read more about our research process on this page.

Citation

Elizabeth Bynum Sorrell, Ariel Kennan, Anvitha Reddy, Isabelle Granger, Miranda Xiong, Olivia Zhao, and Quinny Sanchez Lopez, “Account Creation and Identity Proofing in Online MAGI Medicaid Applications: 2024 Dataset + Analysis” Digital Benefits Network, March 1, 2024.

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