As of September 12, an estimated 17.6 million Americans have gained health insurance coverage since enrollment under the Affordable Care Act began in October of 2013, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. This is an increase of 1.3 million since HHS estimate in March.
About 15.3 million adults gained coverage during the period of just under two years. The uninsured rated declined from 20.3% to 12.6%, a 38% reduction. Another 2.3 million young adults, aged 19 to 25, gained coverage as a result of the ACA provision that allows young adults to remain on a parent’s insurance plan until age 26. This went into effect in 2010.
The uninsured rate declined across all races and ethnic groups, according to HHS.
Among African Americans the uninsured rate declined from 22.4% to 12.1%, a 46% change resulting in 2.6 million adults gaining coverage.
For Hispanics, the rated declined from 41.8% to 30.3%, a 27% change, with 4 million gaining coverage.
The White uninsured rate declined from 14.3% to 8.3%, a 42% decline, with 7.4 million adults being added to the ranks of the insured.
By gender, the uninsured rate for males declined from 21.8% to 14.5%, a 33% change that added 7.3 million insured males. The uninsured rate for females declined from 18.9% to 10.8%, a 43% drop that resulted in 8.2 million women gaining coverage.
In states that expanded Medicaid coverage, the uninsured rate dropped from an average of 18.2% to 10.1%. In non-expansion states the rate declined from 23.4% to 16.1%.