Women's Health Insurance Coverage Remains Steady

Today, the Census Bureau released new data on the rates of health insurance coverage in 2012. Overall, the percentage of uninsured Americans decreased from 15.7 percent in 2011 to 15.4 percent in 2012, which represents over 600,000 newly insured Americans.

Rates of health coverage increased slightly or remained steady for women aged 18-64:

• The rate of women without health insurance declined slightly, from 19.6 percent in 2011 to 19.2 percent in 2012. But, over 18 million women still remain uninsured in 2012.
• Medicaid continued to provide health insurance to about 12 percent of women in 2011 and 2012.
• And, health coverage for young adult women ages 19 to 25 also remained steady, with about 25 percent lacking health coverage in both 2011 and 2012.

Coverage for young women has grown following implementation of a provision in the new health care law which enables young adults to retain coverage through their parents’ insurance policies until they turn 26. In 2009, before the passage of the law, over 28 percent of young women were uninsured.

Much of this year’s increase in health coverage is reflected in data for children and elderly Americans. According to the Census Bureau, the proportion of Americans receiving health insurance through Medicare grew significantly, from 15.2 percent in 2011 to 15.7 percent in 2012. At the same time, the percentage of uninsured children decreased significantly from 9.4 percent going without health insurance in 2011 to 8.9 percent in 2012.

As the health care law is fully implemented in the coming months, we expect to see substantial increases in the number of Americans with health coverage. Starting October 1, millions of Americans will be able to sign up for affordable insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces and begin enrolling in Medicaid if they live in a state that has accepted federal funding to expand coverage through the Medicaid program.