Kentucky’s Medicaid Expansion Showing Early Promise On Coverage And Access To Care

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1294
• Publication Date: 2016-02-18T04:54:50Z
• Authors: Joseph A. Benitez; Liza Creel; J’Aime Jennings
• Keywords: Medical care

Kentucky is one of only two southern states, at the time this writing, to have expanded Medicaid under Affordable Care Act. The expansion raised eligibility levels as a means make coverage more accessible and health care affordable for population likely face financial barriers in using medical care. This article examines first-year impact Kentucky's on insurance access Focusing low-income population, we observed large reductions uninsurance rate from 35 percent end 2013 just below 11 by 2014. Other findings revealed declines unmet needs because cost number people without readily identifiable source regular among groups. While our results are limited experience with expansion, they may hold lessons other states looking address issues their historically vulnerable populations.