Number Of Uninsured Connecticut Residents Increasing, State Survey Finds

The number of uninsured Connecticut residents increased to nearly 223,000 people, or 6.4% of the state's population, in 2006 -- an increase of 26,000 residents since 2004, according to a survey released Monday by the state Office of Health Care Access, the Hartford Courant reports. The telephone survey, conducted last summer, involved 4,202 state residents. According to the survey:
66.5% of Connecticut residents have employer-sponsored health insurance, compared with 64% in 2004;

23.3% of residents are enrolled in public health programs like Medicaid or Medicare, compared with 26.2% in 2004;

Families of four with annual incomes lower than $20,000 are 12 times more likely to be uninsured than families with annual incomes of $60,000;

Slightly more than half of the state's uninsured are minorities, with Hispanics comprising 34% of uninsured state residents;

61% of the state's uninsured residents are working adults, and more than half of those adults are in permanent, full-time jobs; and

14% of the working uninsured have access to employer-sponsored health benefits but decline coverage.
Based on the survey results, the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy estimates that nearly 347,000 state residents were uninsured at some point during the past year. The Office of Health Care Access plans to release additional information and surveys that examine the reasons why some Hispanics and young adults do not have coverage. Agency Commissioner Cristine Vogel said more uninsured state residents are eligible and could be enrolled in the state's HUSKY program with proper outreach. HUSKY is the state's Medicaid program for low-income children and some of their parents (Levick, Hartford Courant, 12/5).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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The survey is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the report.

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