The number of uninsured Americans increased 1.3 percentage points in 2017, according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-being Index.
According to the index, the percentage of uninsured Americans rose from a record low of 10.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 12.2 percent in the last quarter of 2017. This represents 3.2 million more people without coverage. It is the largest single-year increase since Gallup and Sharecare began tracking the rate 10 years ago.
Although the uninsured rate reached 12.2 percent in 2017, that is still low compared to the 18 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2013, before implementation of the ACA's individual mandate, according to Gallup and Sharecare.
The index cited various likely factors for the 1.3-point increase in 2017, such as increased plan costs for consumers due to some insurers leaving the ACA exchanges, as well as uncertainty last year surrounding legislative efforts to dismantle the ACA.
The uninsured rate increased most among young adults and black, Hispanic, and low-income Americans last year, according to Gallup and Sharecare. Specifically, the uninsured rate among adults aged 18-25 rose by 2 percentage points, from 14.7 to 16.7 percent, and the uninsured rate among black and Hispanic adults increased by 2.3 and 2.2 points, respectively. The uninsured rate among low-income adults increased 2 points in 2017.
According to the index, fewer Americans bought their own plans — 20.3 percent in the last quarter of 2017 compared to 21.3 percent at the end of the year prior.
Read more about the latest index, which is based on a survey of about 25,000 adults, here.
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