[Excerpt from article by Karla Santos, 2/4/2022]
MERIDEN — The state’s health insurance exchange recently launched a free program to help individuals become licensed insurance brokers with the goal of reducing the uninsured rate and addressing health disparities.
An extensive study revealed significant disparities in health care in the state, according to Tammy Hendricks, director of health equity & outreach for Access Health CT, the state’s insurance marketplace. Her department was created to address the issue.
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Thirteen percent of Meriden adults have no health insurance, according to a 2021 equity profile published by the New Haven-based non-profit DataHaven, with Black and Latino residents disproportionately impacted.
“Due to differences in workplace benefits, income, and eligibility factors, Black and especially Latino people are less likely to have health insurance than white people,” according to the profile.
Statewide, nearly 20% of Latinos and nearly 10% of Black residents lack health insurance.
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