Health Insurance Coverage
Definition
Having public or private health insurance that pays for medical care, preventing financial catastrophe from healthcare costs. The uninsured delay care, face medical bankruptcy, and die at higher rates from preventable/treatable conditions. The Affordable Care Act expanded coverage through Medicaid expansion and subsidized marketplace plans, but gaps remain: people earning too much for Medicaid but too little to afford marketplace plans, and undocumented immigrants excluded from public programs.
Louisville Context
Approximately 10-12% of Jefferson County residents (75,000-90,000 people) lack health insurance despite Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion. Uninsured rates are highest in low-income neighborhoods and among Hispanic residents (many undocumented and ineligible for public programs). The uninsured rely on emergency rooms for care, driving hospital costs and uncompensated care that get passed to insured residents through higher premiums.
Why It Matters
Lack of health insurance causes preventable suffering and death. The uninsured skip medications, delay care for serious conditions, and face medical bankruptcy. Children without insurance miss preventive care and fall behind in school due to untreated health problems. Reducing uninsurance improves community health and reduces costs for everyone.
Dave’s Proposal
While the mayor can’t directly expand health insurance, Dave’s Community Wellness Centers will help uninsured residents enroll in Medicaid or marketplace plans, connect them to charity care programs and sliding-scale clinics, and provide navigation assistance. He’ll work with Louisville Metro Health Department to operate free and low-cost health services for the uninsured, funded within $1.025 billion budget.