New HHS Report Finds 40 Percent Decline in Uninsured Rate Among Black Americans Since ACA Implementation

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) found that since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage provisions beginning in 2010, the uninsured rate among Black Americans under age 65 decreased from 20 percent in 2011 (approximately 7.1 million people) to 12 percent in 2019 (approximately 4.4 million people), a decline of 40 percent.

The report shows that states that have not expanded Medicaid have the highest percentage of uninsured adults and children who are Black. If the remaining 12 non-expansion states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) were to expand Medicaid, an estimated 957,000 Black Americans without insurance coverage would be eligible for Medicaid coverage.

The report additionally highlights various legislative and administrative actions by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand affordable coverage options through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subsidies, a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP), and enhanced outreach to Black Americans.

The full HHS report is available here.