Smart Benefits: HHS Reports On Coverage Gains Since ACA

Smart Benefits: HHS Reports On Coverage Gains Since ACA

A new report from HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation highlights the changes in the number of uninsured since the Affordable Care Act took effect.

Coverage Totals

According to the report, about 16.4 million uninsured gained health insurance coverage since the ACA’s coverage provisions took effect, dropping the uninsured rate from 20.3 percent to 13.2 percent. Of those:

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

• 14.1 million were adults who got coverage (including 3.4 million young adults ages 19-25) through March 4, 2015.
• 2.3 million were young adults ages 19-25 who got health insurance between 2010 and the start of open enrollment in October 2013 because of the ACA provision that allows children to remain on a parent’s plan until age 26.

Race/Ethnicity Differences 

The uninsured rate declined across all race/ethnicity categories. However, the decline was greatest among Latinos, who experienced a drop of 12.3 percentage points from a baseline uninsured rate of 41.8 percent.

Income Impact

Health insurance coverage gains were strongest in Medicaid expansion states and were concentrated among low and middle income population groups in all states. 

• Non-expansion states, who had an average baseline uninsured rate of 23.4 percent, saw a drop of 6.9 percentage points. Families with incomes between 139-400 percent of FPL had the largest drop at 10.1 percentage points. 
• Expansion states, with an average baseline uninsured rate of 18.2 percent, experienced a drop of 7.4 percentage points. Families with incomes at 138 percent of poverty or less had the largest drop at 13 percentage points. 

The report indicated there was little or no change in coverage among people with incomes above 400% of FPL.

Rob Calise is a founding partner of Cornerstone Group, where he helps clients control the costs of employee benefits by focusing on consumer driven strategies and on how to best utilize the tax savings tools the government provides. Rob serves as Chairman of the Board of United Benefit Advisors, and is a board member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Broker Advisory Board, United HealthCare of New England Broker Advisory Board and Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisors Council. He is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), American Health Insurance Association (AHIA) and the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), as well as various human resource associations. Rob is a graduate of Bryant University with a BS in Finance.