Uninsured rate falls by half in states that expanded Medicaid

The number of people lacking health insurance dropped by half in the 29 states that expanded Medicaid under ObamaCare, far more than states that did not agree to the expansion, according to new data.

{mosads}While all states saw major increases in coverage under ObamaCare, the biggest differences were seen in states that accepted federal dollars to expand eligibility for Medicaid, according to new figures from the Urban Institute’s Health Reform Monitoring Survey.

The drop in the uninsured rate was about 30 percent in the 31 states that did not expand Medicaid eligibility.

Nearly 93 percent of people have insurance in the 29 states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility, the figures show. That compares to about 86 percent of people with insurance in states that have refused the expansion.

“States that have yet to expand Medicaid should take a peek at their neighbors’ coverage gains to see what a difference expansion has made,” Kathy Hempstead, an expert in coverage at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the study, wrote in a statement.

Sixteen states — nearly all led by Republican governors — have refused to expand Medicaid. Six states, including Democratic-led Virginia, are in negotiations with the federal government to do so.

The survey, which offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the country’s uninsured rate, also found more good news for ObamaCare.

The data shows that the nation’s uninsured rate has continued to plummet so far this year, with just one in 10 people now lacking coverage.

A total of 15 million people gained healthcare over the last two years, which has dropped the national uninsured rate to 10.1 percent.