Young Americans’ Insurance Coverage Falls

Health Insurance Coverage among Young Americans Falls

The number of young Americans with health insurance coverage has declined, according to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report highlights a drop in insurance coverage among children under the age of 19, while older Americans saw an increase in coverage.

Key Findings

• In 2023, 92% of Americans had health insurance for at least part of the year, which is unchanged from the previous year.
• However, the percentage of uninsured children under the age of 19 increased slightly, from 5.4% in 2022 to 5.8% in 2023.
• The increase in uninsured children is due to a decline in employer-based coverage, which was not offset by an increase in Medicaid or marketplace coverage.

Reasons behind the Decline

Jennifer Tolbert, director of state health reform and deputy director of the program on Medicaid and uninsured at KFF, attributed the decline in insurance coverage among children to a drop in employer-based coverage. "Employer-based coverage is no longer a stable source of insurance for children," she said.

Data Sources

The Census Bureau report used data from the current population survey (CPS), a monthly survey conducted with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey covers a sample of approximately 100,000 households across the United States.

Limitations of the Survey

The CPS only counts someone as uninsured if they lacked coverage for the entire year. This means that individuals who had temporary or partial coverage may not be reflected in the data. Additionally, the survey did not capture the full impact of changes in insurance coverage in 2023 due to the end of the Medicaid continuous enrollment program, which resulted in 25 million people being disenrolled from Medicaid.

Recent Developments

In addition to the Census Bureau report, the Department of Treasury released data on enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. According to the data, over 20 million Americans signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplace in 2023, which is the highest enrollment rate on record.

Impact on Enrollment

The increase in enrollment in the ACA marketplace is attributed to the pandemic, which led to expansions in the premium tax credit under the American Rescue Plan Act. States that did not expand Medicaid saw a higher rate of marketplace enrollment compared to those that did.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the percentage of uninsured children under the age of 19?

A: According to the Census Bureau report, 5.8% of children under the age of 19 did not have health insurance in 2023.

Q: What is the reason for the decline in insurance coverage among children?

A: The decline in insurance coverage among children is attributed to a decline in employer-based coverage, which was not offset by an increase in Medicaid or marketplace coverage.

Q: How many Americans signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplace in 2023?

A: Over 20 million Americans signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplace in 2023, which is the highest enrollment rate on record.

Q: What is the average cost of premiums for a year of ACA marketplace health insurance enrollment?

A: The average cost of premiums for a year of ACA marketplace health insurance enrollment is $800, according to a senior administration official.

Conclusion

The report highlights the importance of expanding health insurance coverage to ensure that all Americans have access to necessary healthcare. policymakers and healthcare officials must continue to work together to identify solutions to the decline in insurance coverage among young Americans.