CDC Finds Just 9.1% Of Americans Uninsured As Of September 2015, Down From 14.4% In 2013
According to the latest data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, during the first nine months of 2015, 9.1 percent of Americans aged 18-64 still lacked health insurance. However, this is down from 14.4 percent in 2013 prior to Obamacare, the AP reported. The survey found that in the first three quarters of 2015, eight US states in particular “saw a significant drop” in uninsured residents – Arizona, California, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, New York, and Michigan. Of the eight states, five have GOP governors, the AP pointed out. Another 10 states have seen “notable reductions” in uninsured residents, but not at a level deemed statistically significant in the survey, the AP said. Among the states seeing the largest reduction in the number of uninsured was Kentucky, with a 6.5 percent drop in uninsured residents. Despite this, “nearly 29 million people were still uninsured” through September 2015, including “an estimated 11 million immigrants without legal permission to be in the country, who are not entitled to coverage.” Fortune reported that when considering children under 18, the uninsured rate has fallen from 14 percent in 1997 to 4.5 percent, the CDC survey found. While some of this “is due to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” part of this is due to Obamacare “subsidies, which help offset the cost of plans for those parents or guardians who make slightly too much to apply for CHIPs,” Fortune said.
What This Means For Small Businesses
Small business owners are well aware of increases in health insurance coverage over the past few years. However, these increases in coverage have led to mounting capital expenses for business owners. Obamacare has been a burdensome mandate for small businesses that will continue to stifle economic growth.
Additional Reading
Huffington Post also covered the latest survey results.
Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.
