Census: Uninsured rate falls under Affordable Care Act

Stethoscope and records. — PHOTO: Pixabay

The number of Wisconsinites who do not have health insurance fell sharply during the first three years of the Affordable Care Act, according to survey data released in September by the U.S. Census Bureau.

About 218,000 fewer Wisconsin residents were uninsured in 2016 than in 2013 — a decline of 42 percent.

Also, nationwide, the percentage of uninsured is now at an all-time low.

The American Community Survey shows the number of Americans without health insurance fell by 40 percent from 2013 to 2016. The number of uninsured fell almost 2.5 million in 2016, on top of declines in 2014 and 2015.

Countering Trump’s sabotage

Jon Peacock — research director of the progressive advocacy group Wisconsin Council on Children and Families — said the data is good news for Wisconsin, but not a reason to be complacent.

Peacock recommended two policy measures to bring down the state’s uninsured rate even more.

“First, state lawmakers should take advantage of the part of the health-care reform law that would pay for the expansion of BadgerCare coverage to low-income working adults who are slightly above the poverty level,” he said. “Second, we need to invest in outreach and enrollment assistance for the federally subsidized private insurance marketplace in order to counter actions the president has taken that could reduce participation.”

The president and congressional Republicans have not succeeded in “repealing and replacing” the Affordable Care Act, but the Trump administration has moved to undermine the legislation.

Most recently, the administration announced sharp cuts in programs promoting health-care enrollment. Advertising will be cut from $100 million spent on 2017 sign-ups to $10 million. Also, funding for consumer helpers or navigators will be cut from $62.5 million for 2017 to $36.8 million.

Also, for 2018, the administration is reducing the enrollment period to Nov. 1–Dec. 15.