The data also show that Rhode Island’s communities of color were much more likely to live in poverty with poverty rates for Blacks and Latinos three times those of Whites. The overall median income masks the hurdles faced by communities of color in our state. Latino ($41,123) and Black ($37,781) median incomes trail overall median income by a wide margin, …

In 2017, Medicaid expansion allowed 75,000 single adults with income marginally above the poverty line to have health insurance coverage, representing 23% of the Medicaid-insured population. The balance of the Medicaid-insured included: 20,000 seniors (6%), 32,000 adults with disabilities (10%) and 12,000 children with disabilities (4%). The majority (51%) of Medicaid enrollees were pregnant women, children and their families (166,000). …

In 2016, more than one in eight Rhode Islanders (12.8 percent) had income below the poverty level. The Ocean State had the highest rate of its residents living in poverty in the New England states and ranked 22nd among all states. The 12.8 percent overall poverty rate in Rhode Island in 2016 was a significant decline from the peak rate …

The percentage of uninsured Rhode Islanders dropped to 4.3 percent in 2016, down from 5.7 percent in the previous year and to less than half the rate before the Affordable Care Act went into effect. RI ranks 3rd best in New England and 6th best in the country. Under the ACA, single adults with income slightly above the poverty level ($16,643) …

Approximately 34 percent of workers in Rhode Island lack paid sick time, and low-income and part-time workers are especially unlikely to be covered. Access to paid sick time promotes safe and healthy work environments by reducing the spread of illness (Kumar, et al. 2013; Drago and Miller, 2010) and workplace injuries (Asfaw, Pana-Cryan, and Rosa 2012), reduces health care costs …

One in seven Rhode Islanders with income below the poverty level do not have enough to meet basic needs.  Child Care Assistance, SNAP and health insurance coverage help working families make ends meet when earnings are not enough.  Rhode Islanders unable to work on a temporary or permanent basis turn to cash assistance and other programs to protect themselves and …

Policies that boost the economy; help thousands of Ocean State families The Governor’s FY17 Budget Article 13 increases the minimum wage to $10.10 next year and expands the state earned income tax credit from 12.5 percent to 15 percent of the federal credit (the Governor indicated an interest in further expanding the EITC pending available resources following the mid-year revenue forecast). …