Gov. Beshear's Statement on Gallup Study Finding Kentucky's Uninsured Rate at 9 percent

Statement

"For the third time in a year, Gallup has cited Kentucky as a national leader among states experiencing the sharpest decline in the rate of the uninsured. By a small measure, only Arkansas has outpaced Kentucky's progress since the Affordable Care Act took effect Jan. 1, 2014.

Not surprisingly, Gallup found seven of the 10 states with the greatest reduction in the uninsured have followed the same path as Kentucky by expanding Medicaid and establishing a state-based exchange. Our newly insured Kentuckians are not waiting until they are sick to access their health care benefits. They are using their coverage to seek recommended preventive health services, such as lifesaving breast and colorectal cancer screenings. Over time, this increased utilization of preventive health services will help improve the overall health of our citizens and our state.

This most recent Gallup study once again provides unbiased confirmation that Kentucky is on the path to make transformational changes in the lives and health of our Commonwealth and our more than 500,000 Kentuckians who have qualified for health care coverage through kynect since Jan. 1, 2014."

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