A new report based on Census data estimates that 8.8 million Americans gained health insurance in 2014.

Numerous surveys have shown that uninsured rates have dropped dramatically across the country since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was implemented, but the census study adds a more concrete glimpse of the law's impact.

The Census Bureau found that 33 million Americans lacked insurance in 2014, down from 41.8 million in 2013. It calculates the uninsured rate fell from 13.3 percent to 10.4 percent.

The drastic increase in health coverage comes in spite of relatively middling gains in a variety of other economic measures. Median household income — $53,657 — essentially remained flat in real terms and the nation's poverty rate — 14.8 percent — also did not change in any statistically significant way. However, some suggest that an increase in non-family households may help explain why household incomes are not increasing in the midst of an economic recovery.

The uninsured rate remained relatively steady from 2008 to 2013, as the country dealt with recession and four years of economic recovery, according to the study. While the rise in employment during the recovery did not appear to reduce the percentage of those lacking insurance, the introduction of the PPACA at the end of 2013 radically reshaped the picture.

The Census Of those who have health care, 55 percent get it through an employer. Medicaid is the second most common form of coverage, accounting for 19.5 percent of the population. Another 16 percent are covered by Medicare, 14.6 percent purchase their insurance directly and 4.5 percent are covered by the military.

Most of the change in the insurance market is due to an increase in the number of Americans buying insurance directly. The rate of direct purchasers increased by 3.2 percent in 2014. The second largest driver comes from more people enrolling in Medicaid, whose portion of the health care market increased by 2 percent.

Despite improvements in coverage across all demographic groups, striking disparities remain. Whites enjoy the highest rate of coverage at 92.4 percent, compared to 88.2 percent for blacks and 90.7 percent for Asians. The group with the lowest insured rate is Hispanics, only 80 percent of whom report coverage.

Instant Insights /

Census finds 8.8 million gained health insurance in 2014

More From HR Executive

Related Stories

Recommended For You