FRANKFORT — The number of people in Kentucky without health insurance fell 5.8 percent last year, the largest drop of any state in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Kentucky was one of 31 states that chose to increase the number of people eligible to receive taxpayer-funded health insurance in 2013. Since then, the state has added about 400,000 people to its Medicaid program and has been held up as an example by President Obama of the success of his health care law.
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said the report shows Kentuckians are not waiting until they are sick to access health care benefits, a fact that will improve the state's overall health.
Republicans question whether the state can afford the expansion, noting that a quarter of the state's population is now receiving government assistance.