Though history will ultimately determine just how effective the Affordable Care Act was at fixing some of the nation's health care woes, one fact is already abundantly clear: More people are receiving coverage, whether via employee benefits or on their own accord.
A quarter of the way through 2016, the nation's uninsured rate fell to 11 percent, according to the most recent estimates published by Gallup. It's the lowest rate of Americans without health insurance in eight years, and since 2013 – when the health care overhaul went into effect – the percentage of people without health plans has fallen by over 6 percent.
Stephanie Marken, chief methodologist at Gallup, said the uninsured trend line is almost certain to maintain a downward trajectory, though perhaps to a lesser degree.
"The drop in the first quarter of 2016 suggests that the rate may continue to decline in future years, although less markedly and maybe only in the first quarter of each year as U.S. adults continue to make use of the exchanges to obtain health insurance."
The state exchanges may be on their last legs, however, as several of the marketplaces set up when the ACA went into effect have since closed. Eleven are still viable, but based on a study conducted by The Daily Caller – a conservative leaning news and opinion website – eight more may fold before the year is out, Fox News reported.
