The Uninsured Rate of Americans 50 to 64 Years Old

Although the uninsured rate among Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 years was already lower than the national average, the rate fell by nearly a third from December 2013 to December 2014, according to a study published by the AARP Public Policy Institute.

There are 4 ways in which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded access to health insurance coverage for this age group: increasing the number of people eligible for Medicaid; subsidies to help consumers purchase coverage through the health insurance marketplaces; and prohibiting insurers from denying coverage or charging higher rates based on medical history or preexisting conditions; and restricting how much insurers can increase premiums for older consumers.

These changes addressed some of the largest barriers 50- to 64-year-olds faced when obtaining coverage if they weren’t offered health insurance through their employers.

Of the 4 provisions that reduced the uninsured rate, Medicaid expansion was a clear driver of the reduction among this age group, according to the findings. The uninsured rate for this population was twice as high in states that chose not to expand Medicaid eligibility compared with states that did not expand Medicaid.

Read the full report at AARP's website.