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  • Our Focus

    We envision a Connecticut where everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status—can achieve optimal health. To make this a reality, we focus on four areas that are critical to ensuring that the next generation will not face the same persistent racial and ethnic health disparities.

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    • Expand Health Care Coverage
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    Change comes from many different approaches. It can be through a grant that identifies a new way to deliver care, policy research that identifies a solution to a pressing problem, or leadership that fosters change.

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    Our publications are focused on identifying solutions to complex problems. Browse our library to discover research and commentary that are changing systems in Connecticut and across the country.

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    Inequities are a huge part of the story of health care in Connecticut. We strive to be a key resource in helping people understand and explore the complex health care system, the disparities that exist, and potential solutions.

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    We focus on improving health outcomes for people of color and ensuring that all Connecticut residents have access to affordable and high-quality care. Through public policy, grantmaking, and leadership development, we work to make lasting changes that improve lives.

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  • Why We Focus On Health Equity
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  • Our Focus
    • Expand Health Care Coverage
    • Community Health Workers
    • Maternal Health Equity
    • Infrastructure for Health Equity
  • What We Do
    • Grantmaking
    • Convening
    • Community Leadership
    • Research
  • Publications
    • Publication Library
      • Briefs and Reports
      • Resources and Fact Sheets
      • Infographics
      • Videos
    • A Guide To
      • Community Health Workers
      • Health Care Coverage in CT
      • Health Disparities in CT
      • Medicaid in CT
  • Latest News
    • Blog Posts
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Topic Guides

Medicaid in CT

Medicaid is a critical source of health care coverage. In Connecticut, it's known as HUSKY.

Nationally, Medicaid covers more than one in five people. The same is true in Connecticut, where more than 900,000 people get their health coverage through HUSKY, including more than 366,000 children. Medicaid covers people at all stages of life; 38% of births in the state are paid for by Medicaid, and Medicaid is the biggest payer of nursing home care and other long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid provides health care coverage for low-income residents. It is administered by each state under federal rules and serves as a critical safety net for one in five U.S. residents. The federal government pays more than half of the state’s Medicaid costs. Medicaid is separate from Medicare, which covers seniors and people with disabilities.

Fact sheet

Medicaid in CT

A brief overview of HUSKY, with details on who is covered, different parts of the program, costs, and outcomes.

Fact sheet

Medicaid in CT (KFF)

This fact sheet from KFF includes key data points on topics including enrollment, eligibility, and public opinion.

Report

Medicaid 101

This is a chapter of KFF's Health Policy 101, and provides a comprehensive overview of Medicaid in the U.S.

Who does Medicaid cover?

Report

Faces of HUSKY D

Profiles of individuals covered by Medicaid and data on the impact of the coverage for low-income adults without minor children.

Stories

That's Medicaid

That's Medicaid shares stories, in pictures and videos, of people affected by Medicaid at critical points in their lives.

Blog post

Medicaid: What’s at stake? The Medicaid expansion

This blog post explains what the Medicaid expansion is and who is covered by it.

What effects does Medicaid have on health?

Research has linked Medicaid coverage to a wide range of long-term health benefits. For example, research has linked coverage of children to better overall health in adulthood, as well as outcomes including reduced obesity, fewer hospitalizations, lower rates of disability, and reduced mortality.

Additional research has linked Medicaid coverage of low-income adults to improved access to medical care, better behavioral health outcomes, and catching cancer earlier.

Brief

Medicaid is a Smart Investment in Children

This policy brief from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families summarizes research on the effects of Medicaid coverage for children and pregnant women, focusing on health and educational outcomes and economic security.

Report

Building on the Evidence Base: Studies on the Effects of Medicaid Expansion

This literature review of nearly 200 studies examines the effects of Medicaid coverage of low-income adults on outcomes including mortality, cancer, chronic disease and disabilities, behavioral health, disparities, economics, and other topics.

What effects does Medicaid have on economic outcomes?

Medicaid shields members from out-of-pocket costs and reduces their likelihood of experiencing medical debt or other financial hardships from health care costs.

Research has linked Medicaid coverage in childhood to increased likelihood of attending college, lower rates of teen parenthood, higher wages, paying more taxes, and lower use of government assistance.

A recent study looked at the long-term outcomes from one of the earliest expansions of coverage to undocumented residents. In 1988, California made prenatal Medicaid coverage available to undocumented residents. This 2022 study examined the long-term outcomes of this policy, and found that children born to undocumented mothers after this policy went into effect had better birth outcomes. They were more likely to attend and graduate from college and were less likely to rely on government assistance programs as adults. The study authors calculated that “over the long-run, the government more than recoups its initial investment.”

Video

Medicaid Has a Huge Return on Investment

In this video from Healthcare Triage, Dr. Aaron E. Carroll describes the findings from research on the health and economic effects of Medicaid, including improved health outcomes and financial security.

Blog post

How Medicaid Protects Beneficiaries from Financial Stress — and How It Could Do More

This article from The Commonwealth Fund summarizes research findings on how Medicaid can protect people’s financial health. It notes that policymakers can do more to reduce financial hardships for low-income residents.

Blog post

Medicaid: What’s at stake? Economic outcomes

This blog post explores the significant economic benefits of Medicaid for those covered by the program, the providers who treat them, and communities and states as a whole.

Work requirements in Medicaid

The topic of requiring certain Medicaid clients to work as a condition of health care coverage has got a lot of attention in recent years. Research shows that most adults covered by Medicaid already work or have a disability, or are ill, in school, or taking care of someone else. In states that have implemented work requirements for Medicaid, many eligible adults have lost coverage or not gotten covered, and millions of dollars have gone to administrative and consulting costs.

Fact sheet

Medicaid, Work, and Work Requirements

This fact sheet summarizes data on Medicaid and work in Connecticut, as well as experiences of states that have implemented work requirements for Medicaid.

Report

Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid & Work

This report provides context on the national debate on Medicaid work requirements and data on the work status of adults with Medicaid and the impact of work requirements.

Blog post

Medicaid: What’s at stake? Work Requirements

This blog post outlines what would be at stake if Congress were to implement work requirements for certain people covered by Medicaid.

Topic Guides
  • Community Health Workers
  • Health Care Coverage in Connecticut
  • Health Disparities
  • Medicaid in CT
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