Here are five observations:
1. In Connecticut, the children poverty rate remained constant from 2013 to 2014, despite the national rate changing. In 2014, approximately 15 percent of children in the state lived below the federal poverty threshold.
2. Racial disparities remained prevalent in the state with 6 percent of white children living in poverty compared to 21 percent of black children and 26 percent of Hispanic children in 2014.
3. Despite the poverty rates, more Connecticut residents gained health insurance in 2014 partly due to the Affordable Care Act. In 2014, 93 percent of Connecticut residents had health insurance compared to 90.6 percent in 2013. Nationwide, the number of insured people rose to 88 percent in 2014 from 85.5 percent in 2013.
4. The number of insured children in the state rose from 95.7 percent in 2013 to 96.3 percent in 2014. The expansion is partly attributed to the state expanding Medicaid coverage.
5. In addition to the ACA, Connecticut expanded coverage through the state’s new health insurance marketplace that enables customers to compare prices and benefits among several plans. The plans prove beneficial for individuals who earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.
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