Between September 2013 and March, the number of uninsureds ages18 to 64 dropped by nearly 5 percent. As a result, less than 1percent of that demographic lacks coverage.

This was the state of affairs just prior to the late-March surgein the newly insured that pushed insurance via the public exchangesfrom 3.9 million to more than 7 million, according to thesurveyors, RAND American Life Panel. So, in fact, that less-than-1percent fell further in the waning weeks of the exchange enrollmentperiod.

When the survey began last September, 40.7 million Americanswere uninsured. Since then, 14.5 million got covered, while 5.2million lost it, for a net gain of 9.3 million.

RAND estimated that 1.4 million of the 3.9 million who enrolledin public exchange plans were uninsured before.

Although the pressure to enroll drove the numbers, RAND foundthat many of those newly insured now have coverage through theiremployer or Medicaid.

“Enrollment in ESI plans increased by 8.2 million and Medicaidenrollment increased by 5.9 million,” RAND reported, outstrippingthe number of insured via the public exchanges even after the latesurge.

Fewer than a million dropped out of the insurance marketaltogether.

“While the survey cannot tell if this latter group lost theirinsurance due to cancellation or because they simply felt the costwas too high, the overall number is very small, representing lessthan 1 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 64,” RANDsaid.

RAND found that, among those surveyed, 80 percent who acquiredinsurance got the same type of coverage they’d had before, despitethe new exchange options.

The RAND study tracked information gathered month-by-month frommore than 2,000 individuals.

“This detailed information about insurance coverage combinedwith the fact that the same individuals were surveyed each monthprovides a unique ability to track how insurance coverage haschanged since the major health insurance coverage provisions of theACA took effect on Jan. 1, 2014,” RAND said.