US Uninsured Rate Drops 11.9% in First Quarter 2015

Under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) the uninsured rate dropped to 11.9% for Q1 of 2015. This is down about 1% from last quarter and 5.2% since 2013.

Here are some facts about the new uninsured rate according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index published in April 2015. These results are based on more than 43,500 interviews conducted from Jan. 2 to March 31, 2015:

• Uninsured rate down one percentage point from fourth quarter of 2014
• Uninsured rate lowest since Gallup and Healthways began tracking in 2008
• Down most among lower-income Americans and Hispanics
• ObamaCare is working in regard to lowering the uninsured rate

• The uninsured rate has fallen by about 1% each quarter (during open enrollment) since a 2013 high of 18%. This is not what happened before the Marketplaces opened up.
• The percentage of uninsured Americans climbed from the 14% range in early 2008 to over 17% in 2011, and peaked at 18.0% in the third quarter of 2013. The 18% number included plan drops going into open enrollment 2014. However, the 14% was indicative of a pre-ACA norm (the math of that is about 44.8 million uninsured).
• The uninsured rate could drop further in the months ahead since the Obama administration established a special enrollment period for March 15 through April 30, aimed at signing up those who realize, while paying their taxes, that they must pay a fine for not obtaining healthcare coverage in 2014.
• The uninsured rate will also almost surely fluctuate over the year as people drop their plans, get covered under Medicaid and Medicare, and take advantage of the many special enrollment opportunities.

Learn more about the uninsured rate and ObamaCare.

Learn more about ObamaCare enrollment numbers.