CDC Finds U.S. Health Insurance Figures Remain Stable in 2018

Health insurance figures in the U.S. remain almost stable last year, a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found, even though some groups showed concern about the sustainability of coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act and relevant differences among states.

Between January and September 2018, around 29.7 million or 9.2% of people of all ages did not have any insurance. This figure does not indicate any significant difference from 2017, but it is fewer by 18.9 million persons than in 2010, the year Pres. Barack Obama signed the health insurance bill.

The new estimates, based on interviews with over 61,000 people in the first three quarters of 2018, show that 69% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 were privately insured. The report also found only about 1 in 5 were publicly insured, and 13% were uninsured. People aged 25 to 34 were most prone to waive health coverage, while those 45 to 64 had the highest number of insured.

The findings slightly differ from the one released by a Gallup Poll published earlier, suggesting that 13.7% of adults were uninsured in 2018, which is higher than the 10.9% in 2016. Analysts account the methodology differences as the probable reason for the variation.

However, the number of uninsured could increase, as private insurers, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and health facilities launch efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act. Lobby groups America’s Health Insurance Plans, The Federation of American Hospitals, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America joined forces in June 2018 to pre-empt what they believe as an alarming rise in interest in motions to expand the federal government’s role in health care.