How big has the impact of the ACA been on actual rates of insured people in states? Have states that have embraced this new healthcare plan actually seen increased rates of insurance? Have states that have not adopted all parts of the plan seen changes in insured rates?
Uninsured Rates in 2013
| 2013 Rates | 2014 Rates | |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 22.5 | 11.4 |
| Kentucky | 20.4 | 9.8 |
| Oregon | 19.4 | 11.7 |
| Washington | 16.8 | 10.1 |
| West Virginia | 17.6 | 10.9 |
| California | 21.6 | 15.3 |
| Connecticut | 12.3 | 6 |
| Colorado | 17 | 11.2 |
| Maryland | 12.9 | 7.8 |
| Montana | 20.7 | 15.8 |
| New Mexico | 20.2 | 15.3 |
The chart above reflects the changes in rates of uninsured peoples between 2013 and 2014. These states above above had the largest difference between the two years, in response to the question, "Do you have health insurance coverage?" Montana is the only state among the top states who did not expand Medicaid and set up a state exchange/partnership in 2014. They actually did neither. The other states in the above graph did both.
Least Decrease in Uninsured Rates
| 2013 Rates | 2014 Rates | |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 12.5 | 14.4 |
| Virginia | 13.3 | 13 |
| Massachusetts | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 10.3 |
| North Dakota | 15 | 14.1 |
| Delaware | 10.5 | 9.6 |
| New Hampshire | 13.8 | 12.8 |
| Hawaii | 7.1 | 6 |
| South Dakota | 14 | 12.7 |
| Iowa | 9.7 | 8.3 |
The above graph shows the states that had the least decrease of uninsured rates. They include states like Massachusetts, which has had a universal healthcare policy in place since 2006 and has lower rates overall, and states like Kansas, which did not expand medicare or put in place a healthcare exchange. Of the above states only Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, Hawaii, and Iowa expanded both Medicaid and set up a state exchange/partnership. South Dakota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kansas did not do both.