CDC Uninsured Data Highlights Progress In Expanding Coverage To Adult Hispanics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reported coverage gains in the first three months of this year that were related to the health law. Hispanic adults had the greatest percentage point decrease in the uninsured rate -- 28.3 percent -- since 2013, before enrollment began in marketplace plans authorized under the law.
NBC News:
Share Of Latinos Without Health Coverage Down To 28.3 Percent
Newly released federal data show just 28.3 percent of adult Hispanics lacked health insurance in the first three months of the year. The National Center for Health Statistics reported that Hispanic adults had the greatest percentage point decrease in the uninsured rate between 2013, when the uninsured rate was 40.6 percent, and the first three months of this year, 28.3 percent. (8/12)
NBC News:
Nine In 10 Americans Have Health Insurance, Survey Finds
More than 7 million people who didn't have health insurance last year got coverage this year, a new government survey finds. It's the latest in a series of reports showing the Affordable Care Act is expanding the availability of coverage. Each report takes a slightly different approach. This one, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, compares the first three months of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015. (Fox, 8/12)
CQ Healthbeat:
Uninsured Rate Fell By One-Third Since 2013, CDC Says
Mounting evidence suggests that more people are benefiting from the 2010 health care law, with the number of Americans without medical coverage declining by one-third, or 15.8 million people, since 2013, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of people without health insurance dropped from 36 million last year to 29 million between January and March 2015, the CDC said Wednesday. The data is based on a National Health Interview Survey of 26,121 people from the first quarter of this year. (Zanona, 8/12)
In Michigan, a look at enrollment increases and how they have played out in the marketplace -
The Detroit News:
Enrollment Up In Mich. Medicaid HMOs, Individual Plans
Michigan Medicaid HMOs and individual health insurance plans tripled their operating margins in 2014 as a result of the federal Affordable Care Act, according to a report released Wednesday. Research by Allan Baumgarten, publisher of Michigan Health Market Review, found that health maintenance organizations providing coverage under Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program saw improved enrollment, underwriting margins and operating income in 2014 as more than 600,000 residents enrolled. (Bouffard, 8/12)
Crain's Detroit Business:
Operating Income Of Michigan Medicaid HMOs Rises 295% In 2014
The 12 Medicaid HMOs in Michigan were the big managed-care winners last year as operating income rose 295 percent to $163.1 million from $41.2 million and enrollment increased by 21 percent to 1.6 million, driven by Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, according to the 2015 Michigan Health Market Review. Overall, the 19 Michigan HMOs — aided by federally mandated public and private health care insurance expansion under Obamacare — boosted enrollment by 14.8 percent to nearly 3.1 million from 2.7 million the year before, said the report, published by Minneapolis-based consultant Allan Baumgarten. (Greene, 8/12)
But other federal figures show the budget deficit is on the rise, driven in part by costs associated with Medicare spending and veterans' health care benefits -
Bloomberg:
U.S. Deficit Grows In July On Higher Medicare, Veterans Payments
The U.S. budget deficit jumped 58 percent in July from a year earlier on higher spending, as August payments for veterans, retirees and health-care beneficiaries were accelerated. Outlays exceeded revenue by $149.2 billion in July, compared with $94.6 billion shortfall in the same month a year earlier, Treasury Department figures released Wednesday showed. Because Aug. 1 fell on a weekend, Social Security and other payments due that day went out earlier, the department said. (Klimasinska, 8/12)