Survey: U.S. Uninsured Rate Hits Record Low

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act hold up signs as the opinion for health care is reported outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday June 25, 2015. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide t... Supporters of the Affordable Care Act hold up signs as the opinion for health care is reported outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday June 25, 2015. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide tax subsidies under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, in a ruling that preserves health insurance for millions of Americans. The justices said in a 6-3 ruling that the subsidies that 8.7 million people currently receive to make insurance affordable do not depend on where they live, under the 2010 health care law. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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A newly released Gallup study found that the uninsured rate among U.S. adults over the age of 18 has fallen to 11.4 percent—the lowest recorded since Gallup began tracking the metric in 2008.

The study, conducted in partnership with healthcare company Healthways, reports that the uninsured rate has dropped a whopping six points since the Affordable Care Act’s provision that Americans carry health insurance took effect in late 2013. The sharpest increase in health insurance coverage has occurred among Hispanics, blacks and lower-income Americans. Thanks to the ACA’s provision expanding qualifying income levels for Medicaid, the percentage of 18- to 64-year-olds covered by Medicaid is also up from 6.9 to 9.5 percent.

The study authors say the steady decline in Americans without healthcare coverage raises the question of “how low the rate can go.”

The results are based on 44,000 interviews with U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 64, conducted from April 1 to June 30, 2015.

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