According to new federal data, Maine has the largest reduction in the uninsured under Governor Mills.

Maine’s uninsured rate has seen the largest decline in the nation in recent years, Governor Janet Mills announced today.

The governor highlighted a new. Report (PDF) According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine’s uninsured rate will drop from 8.0 percent in 2019 to 5.7 percent in 2021, the largest percentage decline of any state in the nation.

“Having health insurance saves lives. That’s why I’ve fought to make health care more accessible and affordable for all Maine people since the day I took office. This report shows we’re succeeding.” said Governor Janet Mills.“Despite the challenges of the epidemic over the past two years, Maine has outperformed all other states in improving health coverage. Now more Maine people can see a doctor, buy medicine and get preventive care, making both families and our economy healthier. I will continue to fight for critical health care coverage that protects the lives and livelihoods of Maine people.

According to the report, 5.7 percent of Maine’s population lacked health insurance in 2021, compared to 8.0 percent in 2019, representing a drop of 2.3 percentage points, the largest decline of any state, with Idaho a close second. This percentage point change in the insured’s income would reduce the number of uninsured to 77,639 by 2021 by 27 percent.

Additionally, due to more people with health insurance in Maine, uncompensated payments to Maine hospitals fell by $84.1 million between 2018 and 2020, according to data from the Maine Health Information Organization.

“Thanks to Governor Mills’ leadership, Maine’s uninsured rate has fallen more than any other state in the country.Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambreau said.. “This means more Maine people can get the care they need without having to choose between other essentials. The census report shows that the governor’s commitment to the health of Maine’s people and economy is paying off.

“From day one, the governor has worked to improve access to affordable health coverage. Her efforts are paying off as more Maine people are able to get the care they need. said Ann Wolson, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care.. And that’s good news for many healthcare providers who rely on patient care to help keep their doors open.

“Maine hospitals have long advocated for expanding health coverage, and this great news confirms that this is the right policy.” said Steve Michaud, president of the Maine Hospital Association. “This is a huge win for the people of Maine, for hospitals and other care providers, and for Maine’s economy, as the federal government pays for Medicaid expansion.”

The Census report confirms the progress made under the Mill administration to ensure health insurance coverage for the people of Maine. In Maine, Medicaid expansion shows modest increases in employer-based and other private coverage, as well as significant increases in coverage.

This latest report is from August. Report Maine’s uninsured rate among those eligible for Medicaid expansion fell nearly 5 percentage points from 2018 to 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the third-largest decline in the nation.

Governor Mills’ accomplishments in health care include:

• Expanding Medicaid.Medicaid expansion was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Maine at the ballot box in 2017. After being blocked by the previous administration, the expansion was Governor Mills’ first official act as governor and her administration’s first step toward improving health care for Maine people. Today, 99,312 residents are covered by the expansion, and in the three years since its launch, it has helped more than 136,000 people – or one in 10 residents. The federal government pays 90 percent of this coverage, which helps support the costs of caring for previously uninsured hospitals, which is especially important during a pandemic.
• Inserting Affordable Care Act protections into state lawA few weeks after expanding Medicaid in 2019, so did Governor Mills Signed into law Bipartisan legislation to organize insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions, ensuring that Maine people are not sued for cancer, asthma or other chronic conditions or denied full private coverage from state-regulated insurance companies.
• Enroll more people in health insurance: Also under the leadership of Governor Mills, Maine established Own State-Based Health Insurance Marketplace – Coverage ME.gov. A state-based marketplace allows Maine to tailor its marketplace to the needs of Maine people and facilitate access and resources for uninsured communities. CoverME.gov is registered for the first time it opens in 2022 66,095 individualsIt increased 10 percent in 2021, reversing a decline in marketplace plan choices since 2017.
• Making health insurance more affordable for small businesses: Thanks to a bill introduced and signed into law by Governor Mills, small businesses will see the first annual average decrease in health insurance premiums since at least 2001, while small group premiums will increase in many other northeastern states. And the governor said. Launched the Small Business Health Insurance Premium Assistance Program Lowers monthly health insurance premium costs for small businesses and their employees. It has saved more than $20 million for 5,764 small businesses in Maine and 46,348 Maine people—employees and their families—through June 2022.

In 2020, Governor Mills Signed into law Maine Health Coverage ActA unanimously approved bill that would make some of the most common medical visits free or less expensive; Makes shopping for a health care plan easier; It uses federal funds to help make premiums more affordable for small businesses. And it puts Maine in the driver’s seat to make sure all Maine people have a clear choice for their coverage.