Automatic assignment ("auto-assignment") to a Medicaid managed care plan occurs when a client does not respond within 60 days after receiving a package, including enrollment materials, explaining that the client must choose a plan or be assigned to one. The State and City follow up after the initial mailing with reminder notices. An auto-assigned Medicaid enrollee may change his or her health plan within 90 days of the effective date of enrollment. The chart below shows rates of auto-assignment for Medicaid clients subject to mandatory Medicaid managed care.

Mandatory Medicaid Managed Care Auto-Assignment Rates, January - May 2000, New York City and New York State
Source: New York State Department of Health, Monthly Auto-Assignment Statistics.