Uninsurance Rates Falls

Hopefully this number will decrease even more in 2015, after we get accustom to the new healthcare exchanges in 2014........

There’s a drop in uninsured Americans since to the Affordable Care Act,  but nearly 49 million still lack health insurance (Obama passing health insurance exchanges)

Greatest gains due to the Affordable Care Act’s provisions that adults ages 19-26 can remain on their parents’ health plans.

•Improving growth of the public insurance program such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program also fueled the drop of the uninsured

•The recession also had an impact on private coverage  because it had a decline in coverage as well.

 •The recession also had an impact on poverty rate, about 9.5 million Americans live in poverty.

•20 states had significant drops in uninsured rates, with the largest declines in Oregon, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

 

•As the Affordable Care Act is implemented it will have an impact on who is uninsured and who remains without coverage, (those without coverage will face $$$ penalties)

•More than 30% of Hispanics were uninsured, compared to 19.5% of Blacks, about  15% of whites, and about 17% of Asians.

•Rates of uninsured were highest in the South and West and income was a strong predicator of insurance status.

•The range of uninsured is still likely to be 27 million to 29 million in 2014 even after Health insurance exchanges are up and running and many states expand their Medicaid programs to cover more low-income individuals and families >(mainly because people are still unaware of the new changes)

 

•The Affordable Care Act is going to also have an impact on employer-sponsored coverage.

•The consequences of lacking health insurance provide a stark reminder for continued advocacy.

•Its been reported that every 1 million people without health insurance, there will be 1,000 related preventable deaths. (i.e high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac related issues, diseases, viruses, etc., without regular doctor visits, many go unaware of health condition)

•Many studies have shown lack of insurance results in poorer health outcomes (from risky behaviors i.e smoking, obesity, alcoholism, etc.) as well as financial burdens for individuals and families.