uninsured
Patient registration open now for Feb. 3rd Hartford Free Clinic; Doctors, nurses and other volunteers needed
Come out Wednesday, February 3, 2010 to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford for the NAFC’s (National Association of Free Clinics) C.A.R.E Clinic, which will be providing free medical services to uninsured patients from noon- 7 p.m. Doctors from many specialties will be present, and patients are recommended to call 877-233-5159 to make an appointment.…
Read MoreFree Clinics coming to Hartford, sign up to volunteer
The National Free Clinic Association is coming to Hartford February 3rd. Care will be provided to anyone who needs it, without payment, from noon to 7pm at the CT Convention Center. The Association has held massive one-day free clinics around the country, bringing desperately needed medical services to the uninsured and great publicity to the…
Read MoreThe upside of rising unemployment and rising health costs
An article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal found the silver lining in our current economic crisis. As incomes for many dropped this year and health care costs for virtually everyone went up, more Americans will be able to qualify for the end of year tax deduction for medical expenses. Because the rules do not allow…
Read MoreNew report estimates 28,100 new uninsured in CT this year
Based on rising unemployment rates, a new study by Families USA estimates that 28,100 more CT residents are uninsured this year than last. Unemployment in CT as of Aug. 1st was 8.1%, up from 6.1% last August. This places CT 40th in the nation in rates of uninsured; in 2008 we were 45th according to…
Read MoreDanbury and Windham county lead the state in uninsured rates; large variability between CT cities and counties
A new report from the US Census finds that at 14% of residents uninsured, Danbury led CT municipal areas last year. Danbury’s rate was 60% higher than the Hartford area at 8.6%. Both the Hartford and New Haven municipal areas were below the state average of 10.2%. Among counties, Windham led the state at 14.1%,…
Read MoreThe Day Editorial – He snores, so why can’t we buy health insurance?
Susan Epstein has so many good points, it is hard to know where to start. “Don’t think it can’t happen to you. We’re ordinary people. My husband snores and I take too much medicine and therefore, we’re ineligible for health insurance.” Ellen Andrews
Read MoreUninsured up 17,000 in CT last year
The new Census figures on health insurance released today show that CT’s uninsured rate was up to 10% last year. 343,000 state residents were without insurance, including 44,000 children. The really stunning finding is that private employer-based coverage was down by 107,000. Thankfully government coverage picked up more people, about evenly split between Medicaid and…
Read MoreDoes expanding health insurance improve health?
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal addresses a question that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Health reform debates too often miss the real point – we want to improve the health of people. A plastic health insurance card does not guarantee access to care, much less improved health – ask anyone on Medicaid/HUSKY/Charter…
Read MoreHospital community benefits reports out
The Office of Health Care Advocate has released their community benefits report on what hospitals are providing to residents of their communities to improve health, not just the health of their patients. Under state statute, uncompensated care does not qualify as a community benefit. The data is self-reported and there are very likely differences in…
Read MoreCharter Oak celebrates first anniversary
Friday, Governor Rell announced that her Charter Oak Health Plan has enrolled 10,257 previously uninsured CT residents as of the program’s first anniversary. The program is an affordable option for many people and is providing care to thousands. An important advantage of Charter Oak is that no one is denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions,…
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