Kitsap leads state in health coverage
Dr.
"Insurance provides access to health care which is a key element in obtaining preventive and treatment care," Turner said. "Without insurance, people find that they face many barriers to receiving needed health care and associated services like medication coverage. This results in poorer health outcomes and poorer birth outcomes."
The expansion of
About 5,000 residents bought health plans through the state's exchange. A provision of the Affordable Care Act allowing adults to stay on their parents' health plans until age 26 also helped thin the ranks of uninsured.
Despite the gains, about 14,500
State Insurance Commissioner
"It's going to take work," Kreidler said.
Individual adults who don't have coverage this year face a
Local impact
Some
"We are seeing patients who can move beyond struggling to pay for acute illness or injury only and are now choosing to have preventative care and screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms," Kreidler-Moss said.
Expanded coverage gave
At
Kreidler-Moss said expanded coverage has come with challenges. Even with insurance, patients can't always see the providers they need to, particularly for specialty care. The shortage dental care available to low-income residents remains a vexing challenge.
"Without the entire community pitching in to provide complete care, simply having
SIGNING UP
An open enrollment period for the state's individual health plan marketplace ended
Enrollment in
___
(c)2016 the KitsapSun (Bremerton, Wash.)
Visit the KitsapSun (Bremerton, Wash.) at www.kitsapsun.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News