EDITORIAL: Helping those without get access to health insurance – Meriden Record-Journal

While people can generally agree that access to health insurance is important, making that access available to all is a challenge.

One point that’s clear is that there are disparities, that in Connecticut Black and Latino residents are more likely to face insurance issues. A profile last year by the nonprofit Data Haven found that “due to differences in workplace benefits, income and eligibility factors, Blacks and especially Latinos are less likely to have health insurance than white people.” Across Connecticut nearly 20% of Latinos and 10% of Black residents are without health insurance. The equity profile also found that 13% of Meriden residents have no health insurance.

It should not have to be stated that these are unacceptable statistics. You could easily say that a nation like the U.S. and a  state like Connecticut ought to do better. 

The Record-Journal’s Karla Santos recently wrote about a free program that will train people to become licensed insurance brokers in an effort to improve the situation when it comes to the uninsured and health disparities.  Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance marketplace, sees the program as providing “opportunities for members in underserved communities, but really it is designed to address health disparities at its core,” said Tammy Hendricks, director of health equity and outreach for the organization.

The aim is to train 100 brokers at first, in classes in the Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport areas. Brokers help make people aware of the options.

“We rely on brokers to provide support for our patients on decision-making because we are limited in this area,” said Marie Yardis, access to care director for Community Health Center Inc. “Having additional brokers would certainly support our efforts in getting people enrolled.”

While that’s encouraging, it’s important to recognize that affordability remains a significant hurdle. “As much as I am in favor of this plan, the state and our nation still need to address the high cost of health care,” said Mark Kosnoff, executive director of United Action CT. “I fear that despite these new brokers many people in underserved communities will still be unable to afford health insurance.”

Improving efforts to raise awareness about options is a welcome step in helping people get enrolled. More steps are obviously going to be needed.