CT Uninsured Rate Decreases by 50 Percent

Half as many people in Connecticut are uninsured now compared to 2012, according to research by Access Health Connecticut, the state’s health care exchange.

Access Health CT held an open enrollment period this year, with 256,666 residents signing up for health care coverage, the Office of the Governor reported. Access Health CT estimated about 138,834 residents, 53 percent, were uninsured before enrolling.

The uninsured rate has declined to 4 percent, down from 7.9 percent in 2012, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Access Heath CT.

The research comes from a survey in which more than 2,500 people who signed up during the open enrollment were contacted.

“Strong outreach efforts have enrolled nearly 140,000 people who didn’t have insurance — residents who can now get affordable medical care and live healthier lives,” Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, chair of the Access Health CT Board of Directors said in a news release.

A Gallup poll released earlier this week showed slightly different results. It measured the Connecticut uninsured rate dropped from 12.3 percent in 2013 to 7.4 percent.

Kevin Counihan, Access Health CT CEO, told CT News Junkie the Gallup results and the state figures are consistent, within a 3 percent margin of error.

Open enrollment is currently closed, but it will begin again on Nov. 15, 2014. For now, only those with special circumstances can get coverage under Access Health CT.