HHS: Young Americans See Lower Uninsured Rates

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Internal data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows that Americans achieved significant increases in health insurance coverage between 2019 and 2021, including in some key demographics such as adults aged 19 to 35 and people aged 35 and over. to age 49, with both groups having their uninsured rate reduced by a percentage point.

A report by the Associate Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) HHS Office shows that larger gains in enrollment have occurred for demographics with higher rates of past uninsured, including young people, Hispanics, Native Americans/Alaska Natives, and non-English speaking adults.

HHS also released its latest snapshot of national Marketplace plans, including state markets, which showed nearly 16 million Americans have signed up for coverage since Marketplace’s open enrollment period began in 2023, up 13% from last year.

With more than 1.8 million Americans signed up for coverage, the Affordable Care Act market share in 2023 continues to outpace previous years, according to HHS.

WHAT INFLUENCES

Nationwide, the under-65 uninsured rate dropped from 11.1% in 2019 to 10.5% in 2021. Coverage growth was largest in several states with recent Medicaid expansion, including Maine (-3.2 percentage points) and Idaho (-2.1 percentage points). ).

Larger gains in coverage occurred for demographics with higher historical uninsured rates, including adults ages 19-34 and 35-49 (both down 1 percentage point), Hispanics (-1 percentage point), Native Americans/Indigenous Alaskans (-0.9 percentage points) and non-English speaking adults (-1.5 percentage points).

The decline in the uninsured was greatest for those whose household income was between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level.

Federal policies such as expanded market access for the 2021 special enrollment period, expanded and improved American Rescue Plan premium tax credits, increased funding for outreach and market registration assistance, and continuous enrollment provision in Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health emergency has likely contributed to the increase in health care coverage since 2019, especially among low-income populations and communities of color, HHS reports.

BIG TREND

A new study commissioned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida found that of all the factors that determine whether a person decides to get health insurance, the most important factor is cost. Nearly 70% of those surveyed believe they cannot afford health insurance or find it too expensive.

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed believe that insurance will cost between $50 and $500 per month, and only 11% believe they can pay $10 or less. In fact, four out of five people on the Affordable Care Act market can find a plan for $10 or less per month after receiving financial assistance. More than nine out of 10 people enrolled in marketplace plans receive financial assistance, according to the survey.

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