Fewer Americans were uninsured in 2022 than in the previous year, according to early estimates from the National Health Interview Survey.
"In 2022, 27.6 million people of all ages were uninsured at the time of the interview," said Robin A. Cohen, Ph.D., and Amy E. Cha, Ph.D., the authors of the study. "This was lower than 2021, when 30 million people of all ages were uninsured. Among adults aged 18 to 64, 12% were uninsured at the time of the interview, 22% had public coverage and 68% had private health insurance coverage."
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However, the increased coverage does not apply equally to all ages, ethnic groups and locations:
- Among children up to age 17, 4% were uninsured, 44% had public coverage and 54% had private health insurance.
- Hispanic adults were more likely to lack insurance (28%), followed by non-Hispanic Black adults (13%). This is substantially higher than the 7.1% and 7.4% uninsured rate for non-Hispanic Asians and non-Hispanic whites, respectively.
- Among adults aged 18 to 64, those living in Medicaid expansion states were more likely to have public coverage (24%) than those living in non-Medicaid expansion states (17%). They also were less likely to be uninsured (9%) than their counterparts in non-Medicaid expansion states (19%).
- Meanwhile, among adults in that age group in non-Medicaid expansion states, the percentage with public coverage increased from 15.1% in 2019 to 17% in 2022.
Related: HHS cites Medicaid, enhanced ARP supports for uninsured declines
Cost is the single biggest factor in determining whether a person chooses to obtain health insurance, a recent survey commissioned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida found. Almost 70% of respondents believe they can't afford health insurance and that it's simply too expensive.
65% of those surveyed believe it would cost between $50 and $500 per month for insurance, while only 11% thought they could pay $10 or less. In reality, four out of five people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace are able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after financial assistance. According to the survey, more than nine out of 10 people enrolled in Marketplace plans receive financial assistance.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
