Despite the economic strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, uninsured rates remained relatively stable throughout 2020, according to an Oct. 29 HHS report.
In 2020, the uninsured rate hovered between 8.6 and 9.7 percent, according to the report. The figures translate to between 28 million and 31.6 million uninsured Americans.
However, coverage did shift as a result of the pandemic, with the report noting an approximate 1 to 3 percent decline in employer-sponsored coverage and a Medicaid enrollment boost of over 10 million new members.
In an Oct. 29 release, HHS credited safety net programs like Medicaid and the 2021 Special Enrollment Period as significant factors in mitigating coverage loss due to the pandemic.
According to the HHS report, ongoing enrollment gains in Medicaid and Marketplace coverage may put the uninsured rate lower now than at the beginning of 2021.