Uninsured Rate for Working-Age Adults Decreases in Majority of Counties

"The estimated uninsured rate for working-age adults (age 18-64) decreased in 72.1 percent of the nation’s counties (or 2,262 counties) from 2013 to 2014, according to new statisticsreleased today from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For the total population under age 65, the estimated uninsured rate decreased in 74.1 percent of counties (or 2,325 counties) between 2013 and 2014. There were no statistically significant changes in 25.9 percent of counties, and only one county experienced an increase in its uninsured rate.

“One way communities use these health insurance statistics is to guide access to screening services for breast and cervical cancer among low-income women.” said Lauren Bowers, a statistician in the Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division. “For example, our estimates indicate that working-age females had a lower uninsured rate than males in about 40 percent of counties.”

In 2014, a provision of the Affordable Care Act went into effect giving the option for states to expand their Medicaid eligibility to most working-age adults living at or below 138 percent of poverty. In states that expanded Medicaid eligibility, 96 percent of counties had a decrease in uninsured rates for working-age adults. In comparison, among the states that did not expand their Medicaid eligibility, 37 percent of counties had a decrease in uninsured rates for their working-age adult.."

Uninsured