The Affordable Care has had a significant impact health insurance coverage nationwide and in Connecticut.
The greatest effect has been in states that expanded Medicaid to low income adults. Enrollment in Connecticut’s HUSKY Program had grown by over 121,000 individuals (19%) as of January 2016, compared with enrollment before ACA implantation (baseline: July-September 2013 average monthly enrollment). The greatest increase (108% by January 2016) continues to be in HUSKY D because Connecticut opted to expand Medicaid coverage in 2014 to low-income adults without dependent children. Overall, the increase in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment in Connecticut) is less than the increase for all states that expanded Medicaid (35%), probably due to the fact that the state had taken many steps before 2014 to increase HUSKY coverage for children, parents, pregnant women, and low-income adults. Most of the enrollment growth occurred in the first year after implementation of the Medicaid expansion.
As a result of the Affordable Care Act, Connecticut is getting closer to covering every eligible Connecticut resident. It is important that Connecticut policy makers ensure uninterrupted affordable coverage for parents who will lose Medicaid on August 1, 2016 due to changes in income eligibility enacted in 2015. It is also important that policy makers monitor insurance status, affordability of coverage, and access to care.
