Health Resource Capacity Assessment for Putnam, Connecticut, May 2001

Health Needs/Barriers to Care: Uninsured

Many Putnam residents and providers noted lack of insurance or inadequate coverage as a significant barrier to accessing health care. ²⁹  When admitted to the hospital coverage is arranged for most, but lack of coverage forces many Putnam residents to miss preventive visits and to delay care when sick. While there are no estimates of the number of uninsured or underinsured by town in Connecticut, it is likely to be high in Putnam given lower income levels and the predominance of part time work in retail and nonprofessional service occupations. High copays and deductibles were frequently mentioned as barriers to care. Many respondents stated that they or someone they knew had delayed care due to cost and/or lack of insurance.

One focus group participant in her 50's has a complex, pre-existing condition. She works only part time due to her condition and does not have access to employer sponsored health benefits. She spends most of her salary now for coverage, but when the rate goes up next year she will be forced to drop coverage and "take my chances."

A provider related the case of a client who had visited the emergency department, was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and given a prescription for an antibiotic. The woman did not have health coverage and could not afford to fill the prescription. Two weeks later she presented again at the emergency room with a serious kidney infection and had to be admitted. ³⁰

Most Putnam children have health coverage either as a dependent on an employer-based plan or through the HUSKY program. HUSKY is Connecticut's public health coverage plan for families. HUSKY covers uninsured children at all income levels, but parent eligibility is income limited. The HUSKY program received only positive comments in Putnam both from providers and parents. As of March 1, 2001 there were 624 Putnam children and 240 adults enrolled in HUSKY Part A (Medicaid). ³¹  These are numbers are within the expected range based on numbers of Putnam students receiving free or reduced price lunch (the two programs have equivalent eligibility criteria). However, there were only 22 children enrolled in HUSKY Part B (Connecticut's State Children's Health Insurance Program - SCHIP), which serves uninsured children at higher income levels. ³² Several key informants felt that public education is needed to let families know that coverage is available through HUSKY for all uninsured children regardless of income level, and for low-income parents. A need to increase parent eligibility income limits was expressed by parents, providers and children. ³³

Footnotes

29. Parent surveys, focus groups, interviews and public input.
30. Interview
31. Department of Social Services.
32. Department of Social Services.
33. Interviews, public input, focus groups.