More low-income adults enrolled in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/uol-mla021716.php

Public Release: 17-Feb-2016
More low-income adults enrolled in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act
University of Louisville study supports other national findings
University of Louisville

A University of Louisville study published today in Health Affairs, found low-income Kentuckians without health insurance declined by 68 percent from 35 percent uninsured at the end of 2013 to 11 percent in late 2014. Completed prior to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's announcement to dismantle the state's health exchange, kynect, the data supports trends of similar studies published nationally showing a drop in the number of uninsured Americans. Study findings also revealed declines in the number of people lacking a regular source of health care and those with unmet medical needs.

At the time of the study, Kentucky was one of two southern states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The expansion raised Medicaid eligibility up to 138 percent of the poverty level as a means to make coverage more accessible and affordable for those likely to experience financial barriers to medical care.

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