Commonwealth Fund Supported Report Shows Uninsured Rate Drops Substantially in Most States
Forty-seven states saw their adult uninsured rate drop by five percentage points or more in the first three years following the Affordable Care Act’s major health coverage expansions, according to a new Commonwealth Fund scorecard assessing access to health care.
New Mexico’s rate dropped the most between 2013 and 2016, from 28 percent to 13 percent. A dozen other states, meanwhile, saw double-digit drops: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia.
The uninsured rate for children under age 19 also fell in most places, dropping by at least two percentage points in 33 states. Nevada saw the biggest drop — eight points — with Montana next at six points.
Recent policy actions, however, could reverse these gains in many states, the report concludes. If Congress repeals the ACA’s individual mandate, premiums for people buying health insurance on their own could become unaffordable for many. Of the 39 states using the federal marketplace, Nebraska, Wyoming, Alaska, and Iowa would see the biggest average dollar increases in premiums for people who buy coverage without subsidies.