1 in 8 cant afford medical bills in Connecticut: study NBC Connecticut [Video]

Newly released data shows 13% of Connecticut households can’t afford their healthcare costs.

The problem is even bigger with families who get their insurance through an employer, with Office of Health Strategy Commissioner Deidre Gifford estimating that number is around 20%.

“What we found, as you’ve seen, is there is a significant chunk of families struggling to pay all of their healthcare bills,” Gifford said.

The data, released earlier this week, highlights the problems people like Dennis Thomas face.

Thomas, of Rocky Hill, had a heart transplant 15 years ago and has been battling colon cancer for years.

“I take about 50 pills a day and with doctors appointments, I have a little saying that I’m always on call,” Thomas said.

Thomas is currently on Medicaid but had insurance through his employer when he had his heart transplant, a procedure he said cost “over $1 million.”

He’s still has tens …