Census: Uninsured Rate Drops to 10.4{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} in 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An estimated 33 million U.S. residents, or 10.4{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}, lacked health insurance in 2014, a decline of 2.9{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} points or 8.8 million people, the Census Bureau reported this week.

That’s the largest percentage-point decline since 2008. Several Affordable Care Act provisions took effect in 2014, including the expansion of Medicaid eligibility and the launch of health-insurance marketplaces. Coverage rates increased 3.2{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} for direct-purchase health insurance, 2{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} for Medicaid, and 0.3{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} for Medicare. Coverage also increased for all racial and Hispanic-origin groups and all age groups except 65 and over. Hispanics had the highest uninsured rate at 19.9{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}.

The report is based on the Current Population Survey and American Community Survey and includes comparisons with one year earlier.