Finding Medicaid Help at the Laundromat
Suitland, Md. — At a SuperSuds Laundromat just south of Washington, D.C., a steady stream of customers loaded clothes into washers and dryers on a recent Sunday morning, passing the time on their phones or watching television.
A New Approach to Health Coverage
Amid the low hum of spinning clothes, Adrienne Jones made the rounds in a bright yellow sweatshirt, asking customers about their health needs. “Do you have health coverage?” Jones, an outreach manager for Fabric Health, asked Brendan Glover, 25, who was doing laundry with his toddler in tow.
Connecting with the Uninsured
Glover works in law enforcement, but he lost his coverage in 2024 when a job ended. “I am young, so I don’t think about it, but I know I will need it,” he said.
Jones collected his contact information, gave him a gift card for a future laundromat visit, and promised to help him find affordable coverage.
A Novel Approach to Outreach
State Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage programs have long struggled to connect with lower-income Americans to help them access health care. They send letters and emails, place phone calls, and post on social media platforms such as Facebook and X.
Some of these state programs are trying an alternative approach: meeting people at the laundromat — where they regularly go and usually have time to chat.
Fabric Health’s Innovative Model
Fabric Health, a Washington, D.C.-based startup, sends outreach workers into laundromats in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and — as of January — the District of Columbia, to help people get and use health coverage, including by helping schedule checkups or maternity care. The workers, many of whom are bilingual, visit the laundromats also to establish relationships, build trust, and connect people with government assistance.
Partnerships with Health Plans
Medicaid health plans including those run by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Maryland, UPMC in Pittsburgh, and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia pay Fabric Health to connect with their enrollees. The company was paid by the Maryland Managed Care Organization Association, the state’s Medicaid health plan trade group, to help people recertify their Medicaid eligibility after covid pandemic-era coverage protections expired.
Results
Since 2023, the company has connected with more than 20,000 people in Maryland and Pennsylvania alone, collecting contact information and data on their health and social needs, said Allister Chang, a co-founder and the chief operating officer. Chang also serves on the D.C. State Board of Education as Ward 2’s elected representative.
Conclusion
By meeting people at the laundromat, Fabric Health is helping to connect the uninsured with health coverage and services. This innovative approach recognizes the importance of human interaction in the healthcare system and provides a platform for people to access essential services.
FAQs
Q: How does Fabric Health work with health plans?
A: Medicaid health plans pay Fabric Health to connect with their enrollees and help them get and use health coverage.
Q: What is the goal of Fabric Health’s laundromat outreach program?
A: The goal is to help people get and use health coverage, including by helping schedule checkups or maternity care, and connect people with government assistance.
Q: How has the program been received by enrollees?
A: Enrollees have reported feeling seen and heard, and have appreciated the personal touch and attention from the outreach workers.
Q: How does the program help enrollees access health services?
A: The program helps enrollees access health services by providing them with information, resources, and support to schedule appointments, get prescriptions filled, and navigate the healthcare system.
