One in Ten

The U.S. Census Bureau has released information from surveys showing that roughly 1 in 10 Connecticut residents do not have health insurance. To be specific, 9.4% were without insurance for the entire year of 2006. This follows the national trend of increasingly uninsured U.S. residents. More alarming is that 8% of Connecticut residents had incomes below the Federal Poverty Level, and Connecticut is regularly the most or second most wealthy state in the nation.

Connecticut Voices for Children writes:

The health insurance figures are of particular significance given the
looming showdown between Congress and the President over children’s health insurance. This summer, both the U.S. House and Senate passed bills to renew the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which helps to fund the HUSKY health insurance program in Connecticut. Both bills would extend coverage to millions of additional children. All members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation voted in support of the bills.

However, President Bush has threatened to veto the SCHIP legislation. In
addition, the President has issued new restrictions on the use of federal
SCHIP funds that could put health coverage at risk for more than 3,500
low-income Connecticut children currently enrolled in HUSKY, as well as many newly uninsured children seeking coverage.

Advocates for Connecticut’s Children and Youth have prepared an Advocacy Toolkit for those who want to take action or find out more information on the issues of poverty and health care.