Health News
The U.S. Census Bureau released data this week showing 2010 estimates of health insurance coverage for all 50 states and each of the nation?s counties. The data are exactly what journalists need to do their own stories about the problem of the uninsured and the potential impact of Medicaid expansion under federal health reform. Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal in Louisville used the data to show what parts of Kentucky have the most uninsured and which would benefit most from Medicaid expansion.
The census report "looked at how many of the uninsured fall into an income category that would make them eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act -- which would be expanded to cover those who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,415 for one person and $31,809 for a family of four)," Ungar reports.
"The U.S. Supreme Court?s June ruling upholding the health care law forbade the federal government from withholding current Medicaid funds from states that refuse to expand the program in 2014 -- and Kentucky and Indiana leaders haven?t yet decided whether to opt in or out," writes Ungar.
The greatest area of need in Kentucky was in the state's south-central region which is part of Appalachia but has no coal. Ronald Wright, judge-executive in Casey County, told Ungar that his hilly county depends largely on industries such as timbering and farming, and many residents don?t have employer-sponsored health coverage. ?I don?t know how we correct it,? Wright said. ?Most people just can?t afford (insurance.) It?s getting so expensive.? He said the uninsured often seek care in emergency rooms that can?t turn them away or at the local health department, which ?is always busy.?
Michael Price, Kentucky state demographer, said the state?s poorest counties, generally in the Appalachian region, don?t usually have the highest rates of uninsured residents. ?In the poorest areas of Kentucky, there?s a fair amount of participation in federal programs, so they?re covered,? Price said. ?It?s the marginal folks who aren?t qualifying for federal programs who are falling through the cracks.?
The web page with Ungar's story has a list of Kentucky counties and the number of uninsured. To read it, click here. The Census Bureau press release has a link to a list of every U.S. county with estimates of the number of people who would be covered if Medicaid were expanded to 138 percent of the poverty level.
- Ky. Neck-and-neck With Ark. For Largest Drop In Percentage Of Uninsured; Kynect And Medicaid Expansion Make The Difference
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky is finally near the top of a good list about health. It's neck-and-neck with Arkansas for the greatest drop in the percentage of uninsured adults since the federal health-care reform law's requirement...
- Kentucky Poverty Rate Is Fifth Highest In U.s., But A Larger Share Of Kentuckians Had Health Insurance In 2012 Than In 2011
By Molly Burchett Kentucky Health News In 2012, as U.S. incomes remained lower and poverty rates higher than in 2007, the year before the recession, Kentucky poverty rates increased and one in four Kentucky children were living in poverty, according to...
- Just-released Figures Show Uninsured By County, Age, Income
People in Logan, Magoffin, Casey, Todd, Menifee, Adair, Monroe, Edmonson and McCreary counties are more likely to lack health insurance than residents of other Kentucky counties, according to the data just released from the Bureau of the Census. And children...
- Expanding Medicaid In Kentucky Would Add 5 Percent To The State's Cost Over The Next 10 Years, National Study Predicts
Expanding Medicaid to people making up to 138 percent of the poverty level under federal health reform and its heavy subsidies would cost Kentucky about 5 percent more for Medicaid over the next 10 years than doing nothing, the Kaiser Family Foundation said...
- If Kentucky Expands Medicaid, No Other State Would Have A Larger Percentage Drop In The Uninsured, Kaiser Commission Says
"Kentucky will benefit most from the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured," Lorie Hailey writes for The Lane Report, a Lexington-based business publication....
Health News
Census data show every county's numbers of uninsured and those who would be covered by Medicaid expansion
 |
| For county-by-county data, see below. |
The census report "looked at how many of the uninsured fall into an income category that would make them eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act -- which would be expanded to cover those who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,415 for one person and $31,809 for a family of four)," Ungar reports.
"The U.S. Supreme Court?s June ruling upholding the health care law forbade the federal government from withholding current Medicaid funds from states that refuse to expand the program in 2014 -- and Kentucky and Indiana leaders haven?t yet decided whether to opt in or out," writes Ungar.
The greatest area of need in Kentucky was in the state's south-central region which is part of Appalachia but has no coal. Ronald Wright, judge-executive in Casey County, told Ungar that his hilly county depends largely on industries such as timbering and farming, and many residents don?t have employer-sponsored health coverage. ?I don?t know how we correct it,? Wright said. ?Most people just can?t afford (insurance.) It?s getting so expensive.? He said the uninsured often seek care in emergency rooms that can?t turn them away or at the local health department, which ?is always busy.?
Michael Price, Kentucky state demographer, said the state?s poorest counties, generally in the Appalachian region, don?t usually have the highest rates of uninsured residents. ?In the poorest areas of Kentucky, there?s a fair amount of participation in federal programs, so they?re covered,? Price said. ?It?s the marginal folks who aren?t qualifying for federal programs who are falling through the cracks.?
The web page with Ungar's story has a list of Kentucky counties and the number of uninsured. To read it, click here. The Census Bureau press release has a link to a list of every U.S. county with estimates of the number of people who would be covered if Medicaid were expanded to 138 percent of the poverty level.
- Ky. Neck-and-neck With Ark. For Largest Drop In Percentage Of Uninsured; Kynect And Medicaid Expansion Make The Difference
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky is finally near the top of a good list about health. It's neck-and-neck with Arkansas for the greatest drop in the percentage of uninsured adults since the federal health-care reform law's requirement...
- Kentucky Poverty Rate Is Fifth Highest In U.s., But A Larger Share Of Kentuckians Had Health Insurance In 2012 Than In 2011
By Molly Burchett Kentucky Health News In 2012, as U.S. incomes remained lower and poverty rates higher than in 2007, the year before the recession, Kentucky poverty rates increased and one in four Kentucky children were living in poverty, according to...
- Just-released Figures Show Uninsured By County, Age, Income
People in Logan, Magoffin, Casey, Todd, Menifee, Adair, Monroe, Edmonson and McCreary counties are more likely to lack health insurance than residents of other Kentucky counties, according to the data just released from the Bureau of the Census. And children...
- Expanding Medicaid In Kentucky Would Add 5 Percent To The State's Cost Over The Next 10 Years, National Study Predicts
Expanding Medicaid to people making up to 138 percent of the poverty level under federal health reform and its heavy subsidies would cost Kentucky about 5 percent more for Medicaid over the next 10 years than doing nothing, the Kaiser Family Foundation said...
- If Kentucky Expands Medicaid, No Other State Would Have A Larger Percentage Drop In The Uninsured, Kaiser Commission Says
"Kentucky will benefit most from the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured," Lorie Hailey writes for The Lane Report, a Lexington-based business publication....