Changes could affect health insurance coverage for low-income people

Proposed changes to the state Med-Quest program’s eligibility criteria could leave up to 5,000 Hawaii residents without health insurance in June.

The state Department of Human Services wants to reduce eligibility for participation in government subsidized health insurance programs for those with an income level below 133 percent of the federal poverty line, down from the current 200 percent eligibility ceiling.

In anticipation of federal approval, state lawmakers have been exploring ways to alleviate the burden on community health centers, which will likely see an increase in uninsured and underinsured patients.