From 2013 to 2014, the share of Americans without health insurance dropped 3.5 percent, from 17.3 percent to 13.8 percent.
The survey found about 12.3 million fewer adults were uninsured in the third quarter of 2014 than in the same time period in 2013, when HealthCare.gov was launched.
According to the report, the rate of uninsured adults dropped in all five most populous states. California saw a drop of 6.3 percent, Texas (2.6 percent), Florida (3.8 percent), New York (2.5 percent) and Illinois (4.5). However, Texas continues to have the highest uninsured rate, with 24.4 percent of its population without health insurance. Massachusetts had the lowest rate, at 4.6 percent, according to the survey.
According to Gallup, 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of decline in their uninsured population have accepted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. Arkansas and Kentucky experienced the most significant decrease. Montana’s uninsured rate dropped by nearly 5 percent, but the state has not expanded Medicaid.
The share of adults without health insurance is expected to fall even lower. According to the poll, 55 percent of the remaining uninsured reported they plan to get coverage to avoid facing increasing tax penalties.
The Gallup survey includes responses from 500 people a day for 350 days. In 2014, this added up to nearly 177,000 adults ages 18 and older.
More articles on finance:
Is the RAC program the key to reducing improper payments? Only time will tell
Carolinas HealthCare won’t back down in 10-year fight over new hospital
HHS blocks health plans lacking hospital coverage
