New Information from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2012

Introduction

In 2012, an estimated 356,000— 12.6 percent of Kansans were uninsured. This is the same rate as it was in 2011.

The percentage of Kansans without health insurance in 2012— an estimated 12.6 percent—continues to be significantly lower than the national rate of 14.8 percent.

Starting in September 2010, the Affordable Care Act allowed young adults up to age 26 to remain on their parent’s employer-based insurance. By 2012, the rate of these Kansans without health insurance coverage had declined to an estimated 22.9 percent—from a rate of 26.8 percent— without health insurance in 2009.  This nearly 4.0 percent decrease in uninsured 19–25-year-olds is primarily due to a simultaneous 4.2 percent increase in private coverage for this age group—from 67.5 percent in 2009 to 71.7 percent in 2012.

The percentage of Kansas children (under age 18) without health insurance is unchanged in 2012—6.6 percent or an estimated 48,000.

In Kansas and across the United States, uninsured rates vary for different racial and ethnic groups.  Kansas does have a lower rate of uninsured white Kansans than the rest of the United States.

Recent Trends

The current rate of uninsured Kansans (12.6 percent) is lower than it was in either 2009 (13.2 percent) or 2010 (13.9 percent).

The rate of Kansans with public coverage has steadily increased over the past 5 years—from 24.8 percent in 2009 to 27.0 percent in 2012.

The increase in public coverage hasn’t affected all age groups equally—the rate of children (0-17) with public coverage has increased, while the rates of adults (19-64) and older adults (65+) with public coverage have remained virtually unchanged.  According to the Census Bureau, Kansas is one of 13 states where increases in public coverage from 2010 to 2012 caused a reduction in the uninsured rate for those under 65.

In 2010–2011, the percentage of Kansans with public coverage increased from 26.1 percent in 2011 to 27.0 percent in 2012.  This continues a trend illustrated in Figure 2 & 3 below.