CAHC in the News

Ann Woloson, executive director of the nonpartisan Consumers for Affordable Health Care, said it’s important “that everybody agrees something needs to happen. Consumers, providers and our healthcare infrastructure are all struggling.”

Approximately 31,000 Mainers are expected to lose health care coverage due to the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid, and thousands of others are foregoing marketplace coverage due to spiking costs.

“In fairness to each of the candidates,” she continued, “they understand that this is a priority for Maine people, and that something needs to be done to address rising costs and the barriers that many of them are facing accessing the health care they need.”

Consumers for Affordable Health Care, an Augusta-based nonprofit, hosted its Health Care for Maine Conference Thursday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Organizers say the event highlights past successes that have improved access to health care and insurance coverage in Maine.

Rising affordability challenges are forcing some Mainers to drop their health insurance coverage but healthcare advocates said financial help is still available.

Residents who use the state’s marketplace, CoverME.gov, will see rate increases of more than 13% next year while small-group market rates jump nearly 15% — another double-digit increase.

Ann Woloson, executive director of the Augusta-based group Consumers for Affordable Health Care, said local assisters are available both in person and online to help people choose the right plan for them.

"Our assisters on our helpline are very well trained in the private insurance market, public insurance market and then safety net programs that help people afford the care that they need," Woloson outlined.

Woloson added people can check their eligibility for sliding-scale community health centers or free care offered by hospitals.