From the Office of The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Five years after the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans have gained health insurance coverage. This factsheet highlights the changes in health insurance coverage after the ACA’s enactment in March 2010, for young adults who were able to gain coverage through their parents’ health insurance plan, as well as adults who gained coverage after the start of open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplaces in October 2013 through March 4, 2015. Details on people who gained health insurance coverage include race and ethnicity, household income and state Medicaid expansion status, and young adults.
HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
March 16,2015
Source: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) analysis of
Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey data through 3/4/15.
All models update the analysis from Sommers et al, N Eng J Med 2014. All models use
nationally-representative survey weights and adjust for age, sex, race, ethnicity,
employment, household income, state of residence, +/- a linear time trend.Since several of the Affordable Care Act’s March coverage provisions took effect, about 16.4 million uninsured people have gained health insurance coverage. That includes:
- 14.1 million adults who gained health insurance coverage since the beginning of open enrollment in October, 2013 (including 3.4 million young adults aged 19-25) through March 4, 2015. Over that period, the uninsured rate dropped from 20.3 percent to 13.2 percent – a 35 percent (or 7.1 percentage point) reduction in the uninsured rate.
- 2.3 million young adults (aged 19-25) who gained health insurance coverage between 2010 and the start of open enrollment in October, 2013 due to the ACA provision allowing young adults to remain on a parent’s plan until age 26.
Additional Detail on Coverage Gains Since the Start of the First Open Enrollment Period in Oct. 2013
Source: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) analysis of Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey data through 3/4/15. All models update the analysis from Sommers et al, N Eng J Med 2014. All models use nationally-representative survey weights and adjust for age, sex, race, ethnicity, employment, household income, state of residence, +/- a linear time trend; *ASPE defines states that expanded their Medicaid programs as of February 1, 2015. States include AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, and WV
The uninsured rate declined across all race/ethnicity categories since the baseline period. There was a greater decline among African Americans and Latinos than among Whites. • Among Whites, the uninsured rate declined by 5.3 percentage points against a baseline uninsured rate of 14.3 percent, resulting in 6.6 million adults gaining coverage.
- Among African Americans, the uninsured rate declined by 9.2 percentage points against a baseline uninsured rate of 22.4 percent, resulting in 2.3 million adults gaining coverage.
- Among Latinos, the uninsured rate dropped by 12.3 percentage points against a baseline uninsured rate of 41.8 percent, resulting in 4.2 million adults gaining coverage.
Additional Detail on Coverage Gains for Young Adults Uninsured Rates for Young Adults
**Source: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) analysis of
Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey data through 3/4/15.
All models update the analysis from Sommers et al, N Eng J Med 2014. All models use
nationally-representative survey weights and adjust for age, sex, race, ethnicity,
employment, household income, state of residence, +/- a linear time trend.Young Adults: Coverage gains for young adults aged 19-25 started in 2010 with the ACA’s provision enabling them to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. From the baseline period through the start of open enrollment in 2013, the uninsured rate dropped from 34.1% to 26.7%, which translates to 2.3 million young adults gaining coverage.*
- Since October 2013, an additional 3.4 million young adults aged 19-25 gained coverage.**
- In total, an estimated 5.7 million young adults gained coverage from 2010 through March 4, 2015.
National, race/ethnicity, and young adult population figures are based on 2014 Census population projections; National, Medicaid expansion by income, race/ethnicity, and the Gallup young adult models use a baseline period between Q1 2012-Q3 2013.
