Health insurance coverage in the United States

U.S. health insurance coverage estimate for 2019. CBO estimated ACA/Obamacare was responsible for 22 million persons covered via exchanges and Medicaid expansion.[1][2]
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In the United States, health insurance coverage is provided by several public and private sources. During 2019, the U.S. population was approximately 330 million, with 59 million people 65 years of age and over covered by the federal Medicare program. The 273 million non-institutionalized persons under age 65 either obtained their coverage from employer-based (159 million) or non-employer based (84 million) sources, or were uninsured (30 million). During the year 2019, 89% of the non-institutionalized population had health insurance coverage.[1] Separately, approximately 12 million military personnel (considered part of the "institutional" population) received coverage through the Veteran's Administration and Military Health System.[2]

Despite being among the world's top economic powers, the US remains the sole industrialized nation in the world without universal health care coverage.[3][4] Prohibitively high cost is the primary reason Americans give for problems accessing health care.[4] At approximately 30 million in 2019,[1] higher than the entire population of Australia, the number of people without health insurance coverage in the United States is one of the primary concerns raised by advocates of health care reform. Lack of health insurance is associated with increased mortality, estimated as 30–90 thousand excess deaths per year.[5][6]

Surveys indicate that the number of uninsured fell between 2013 and 2016 due to expanded Medicaid eligibility and health insurance exchanges established due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the "ACA" or "Obamacare". According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2012 there were 45.6 million people in the US (14.8% of the under-65 population) who were without health insurance. Following the implementation of major ACA provisions in 2013, this figure fell by 18.3 million or 40%, to 27.3 million by 2016 or 8.6% of the under-65 population.[7][1]

However, the improvement in coverage began to reverse under President Trump. The Census Bureau reported that the number of uninsured persons rose from 27.3 million in 2016 to 29.6 million in 2019, up 2.3 million or 8%. The uninsured rate rose from 8.6% in 2016 to 9.2% in 2019.[7] The 2017 increase was the first increase in the number and rate of uninsured since 2010. Further, the Commonwealth Fund estimated in May 2018 that the number of uninsured increased by 4 million from early 2016 to early 2018. The rate of those uninsured increased from 12.7% in 2016 to 15.5% under their methodology. The impact was greater among lower-income adults, who had a higher uninsured rate than higher-income adults. Regionally, the South and West had higher uninsured rates than the North and East.[8] CBO forecast in May 2019 that 6 million more would be without health insurance in 2021 under Trump's policies (33 million), relative to continuation of Obama policies (27 million).[9]

The causes of this rate of uninsurance remain a matter of political debate. In 2018, states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA had an uninsured rate that averaged 8%, about half the rate of those states that did not (15%).[10] Nearly half those without insurance cite its cost as the primary factor. Rising insurance costs have contributed to a trend in which fewer employers are offering health insurance, and many employers are managing costs by requiring higher employee contributions. Many of the uninsured are the working poor or are unemployed.[11]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference CBO_Fcst19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2018". U.S. Census Bureau.
  3. ^ Fisher, Max (June 28, 2012). "Here's a Map of the Countries That Provide Universal Health Care (America's Still Not on It)". The Atlantic.
  4. ^ a b "The U.S. Health Care System: An International Perspective". Department for Professional Employees, AFL–CIO. August 15, 2016.
  5. ^ ""There will be deaths": Atul Gawande on the GOP plan to replace Obamacare". Vox. June 22, 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference uscb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Health Insurance Historical Tables-HIC Series". U.S. Census Bureau.
  8. ^ Collins, Sara R.; Gunja, Munira Z.; Doty, Michelle M.; Bhupal, Herman K. (May 1, 2018). "First Look at Health Insurance Coverage in 2018 Finds ACA Gains Beginning to Reverse". Commonwealthfund.org. doi:10.26099/aacp-5268.
  9. ^ "New CBO Baseline Expects Number of Uninsured to Rise by 5 Million Over Next Decade". Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. May 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kaiser_Uninsured2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kaiser_Uninsured16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).