Maine’s uninsured rate experienced the largest decline in the nation in recent years, Governor Janet Mills announced today.
The governor underlined a new one report (PDF) from the U.S. Census Bureau showing that Maine’s uninsured rate fell from 8.0 percent in 2019 to 5.7 percent in 2021, representing the largest percentage decline among all states in the nation.
“Having health insurance saves lives. That’s why since my first day in office, I’ve fought to make health care more accessible and affordable for all Maine people. This report shows that we are succeeding” said Gov. Janet Mills.“Over the past two years, despite the challenges of the pandemic, Maine has outpaced every other state in improving health coverage. Now more people in Maine can see a doctor, afford medications and get preventive care, keeping our families and economy healthy. 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. That represents a 2.3 percentage point decline, the largest decline of any state , with Idaho in second place. This percentage point change in the uninsured rate translates to a 27 percent drop in the estimated number of uninsured people to 77,639 in 2021. Maine went from 26th to 14th lowest uninsured in the nation .
Further, as a result of more people having health insurance in Maine, uncompensated care for Maine hospitals fell by $84.1 million between 2018 and 2020, according to information from the Maine Health Data Organization.
“Thanks to Governor Mills’ leadership, Maine’s uninsured rate has fallen more than any other state in the country.said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. “This means more Maine people can get the care they need without having to choose between other needs. The Census report shows that the Governor’s commitment to the health of Maine people and Maine’s economy is paying off.” “
“Since her first day in office, the Governor has worked to improve access to more affordable health coverage. Her efforts are paying off as more people in Maine are able to get the care they need. said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumer Affairs for Affordable Healthcare. “This is also good news for the many health care providers who rely on covered patient care to help keep their doors open.”
“Maine hospitals have long supported expanding health coverage, and this great news proves it’s the right policy.” said Steve Michaud, President of the Maine Hospital Association. “With the federal government paying for the vast majority of the Medicaid expansion, this is a huge win for the people of Maine, hospitals and other care providers, and Maine’s economy.”
The Census report further confirms the progress made under the Mills Administration to ensure that Maine people have access to health insurance. It shows slight increases in employer-based coverage and other private coverage, as well as a significant increase in coverage as a result of Medicaid expansion in Maine.
This latest report follows an Aug report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showing that Maine’s uninsured rate fell by nearly 5 percentage points among those eligible for the Medicaid expansion from 2018 to 2020, the third-largest decline in the nation.
Governor Mills’ successful record in health care includes:
- Medicaid expansion: Medicaid expansion was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Maine in 2017 at the ballot box. After being blocked by the previous administration, implementing the expansion was Governor Mills’ first official act as Governor and was her administration’s first step in improving health care for the people of Maine. Today, 99,312 residents are covered by the extension, and it has helped more than 136,000 people in the three years since it began – or roughly one in 10 residents. The Federal Government pays 90 percent of the cost of this coverage, which has subsidized the cost of hospitals to care for patients who were previously uninsured, a move that has been especially important during the pandemic.
- Putting Affordable Care Act protections into state law: In 2019, just weeks after expanding Medicaid, even Governor Mills signed into law bipartisan legislation to codify insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions, ensuring that Maine people with cancer, asthma or other chronic conditions are not overcharged or denied private coverage altogether by regulated insurance companies from the state.
- Enrolling more people in health insurance: Also under Governor Mills, Maine has created Its State-Based Health Insurance Marketplace – CoverME.gov. A state-based marketplace allows Maine to customize the Marketplace to fit the needs of Maine people and tailor outreach and resources to underserved communities. In the first open enrollment for 2022, CoverME.gov signed up 66,095 individualsa 10 percent increase through 2021, reversing declines in Marketplace plan choices since 2017.
- Making health insurance more affordable for small businesses: Thanks to a bill proposed and signed by Governor Mills, small businesses will see the first average annual decrease in health insurance premiums since at least 2001, while average small group premiums in many other northeastern states will increase . The governor also has launched the Small Business Health Insurance Premium Assistance Program which lowers the cost of monthly health insurance premiums for small businesses and their employees. It has saved more than $20 million for 5,764 Maine small businesses and 46,348 Maine people – employees and their families – since June 2022.
In 2020, Governor Mills signed into law Made for Maine Health Coverage Act, a unanimously passed bill that makes some of the most common medical visits free or less expensive; simplifies purchasing a health care plan; leverages federal funds to help make premiums more affordable for small businesses; and puts Maine in the driver’s seat to ensure all Maine people have clear choices about their coverage.
