Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress
has come up with numerous
ways to enable the citizens
of the US to get quality healthcare. The
Covid-19 pandemic brought in a high
rate of unemployment, economic recession,
and a high rate of inflation. Congress
has ensured that public and private
health insurance are provided for those
with access to medicare and ensuring
low-income households have access to
the basic essential health services.
These policies made by the federal
and adopted by the state have helped increase
public coverage of health in over
36 States thus lowering insured rates in
28 states. Though, North Dakota was
known to have a higher insured rate in
2021 as compared to 2019 provided by
2021 American community survey (ACS)
1-year estimates.
The large sample size displayed by
ACS shows the state, their insurance
rates, the type of coverage ( public or
private ), and the number of uninsured
citizens. Health care coverage may
change depending on the state and is
affected by various factors such as the
age of the mass, socioeconomic status,
and federal and state policies.
Whether a state expanded its Medicare
eligibility to meet the healthcare
needs of low-income households is entirely
dependent on healthcare coverage.
Medicare was expanded under the
Patient and Affordable Care Act (ACT)
to help low-income households access
healthcare.
Before the expansion, there were
some restrictions on who was eligible
for Medicare such as disability or
family members with one, a child or
children younger than 18, and a total
annual income less than 140% of the
poverty level in America. Medicare was
expanded to reach solely people with a
low income that couldn’t afford premium
subsidies.
Thrity-six have expanded their Medicare
eligibility on or before January 2021
causing a decrease in uninsured citizens
( expansion state ), while 14 estates
have not adopted the policy (non-expansion
state )
In 2021, the uninsured rate was
6.6% in expansion states and 12.7% in
non-expansion states. Five states with
uninsured rates of 12% or more (Florida,
Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming)
had not expanded Medicaid eligibility.
Between 2019 and 2021, the rates
of uninsured citizens dropped to 0.5
percentage points. The states with
the largest drops were Idaho ( 2.0
percentage points) and Maine (2.3
percentage points). There wasn’t any
drastic change between the two states
but they opted for Medicare expansion
in 2021.
Most people opt for private health
insurance through their employers, and
family members, they purchase it directly
or through TRICARE a health insurance
program for uniform members and
their families; it also includes retries.
