One in ten CT adults forgo needed medical care due to cost, HR-1 likely to increase that rate

In 2024, 9.9% of adults in Connecticut missed needed care because of cost in 2024, according to an analysis of SHADAC data. That’s better than the US average at 12.4%. Both had been dropping as the number of uninsured fell but began rising again after COVID. Medical inflation has grown faster than general inflation since 2000.

The inability to pay medical bills varies significantly among Connecticut residents. The most striking disparity is that 43.2% of uninsured state residents struggle to pay for care, compared to 9.9% statewide. As Connecticut’s uninsured rate is expected to grow significantly next year due to the impact of federal Medicaid cuts, that disparity is likely to grow.

Connecticut adults with one or more chronic conditions are 18% more likely to forgo care due to cost than adults with no chronic conditions. Fortunately, Connecticut Medicaid members are a third less likely to struggle with medical costs than most Americans covered by Medicaid.