US uninsured rate grows to 12.3%, highest since 2014

The percentage of Americans lacking health insurance grew to 12.3 percent in the third quarter of this year, up from 11.7 percent in the previous quarter, according to a Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index poll.

The poll comprised 45,000-plus interviews conducted between July 1 and Sept. 30 with U.S. adults aged 18 and older.

Here are four things to know.

1. The uninsured rate is the highest recorded since 2014, when it was 12.9 percent in the last quarter.

2. Since the end of 2016, the uninsured rate is up 1.4 percentage points.

3. The 1.4-point increase reflects approximately 3.5 million Americans who became uninsured since the end of last year.

4. Gallup listed several possible contributors to the decline, including fewer insurers participating on the individual marketplaces, higher premiums and confusion surrounding Congress' attempt to repeal and replace the ACA.

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