Though the rate of uninsured is still elevated, more people report receiving coverage through a variety of programs such as employee benefits, private coverage or self-funding, according to the results of a new survey.
Among adults, approximately 20 percent of respondents said that they had health insurance through a current or former employer, the military or via a family member, polling firm Gallup found. That's up from just under 17 percent who indicated as much in August of last year. There was also an uptick in coverage among people with Medicare or Medicaid.
"The percentage of Americans aged 18 to 64 who are covered by health insurance that they themselves or a family member purchased has been on the rise since the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and health insurance exchanges went into full effect this year," said Jenna Levy and Dan Witters, methodologists at Gallup. "This increase is likely a direct result of the state and federal health insurance exchanges opening, which gave Americans the opportunity to compare various types of health insurance coverage and purchase individual and family plans."
They added that the increase in people reporting coverage through government-sponsored insurance is likely linked to the expansion of Medicaid, which 21 states have or will implement in 2014.
Gallup found that the uninsured rate in the U.S. dropped to just over 13 percent in April from 15 percent in the previous month. The percentage of individuals without coverage has lowered progressively since mid-2013.
Despite 8 million people having selected health plans through the exchanges, based on estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sentiment regarding the ACA remains largely negative. Kaiser Family Foundation polling data revealed that a plurality of respondents had an unfavorable view of the health reform law.
