In early September, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest American Community Survey One-Year Estimates on health insurance coverage for each state and the nation. After consistent drops each year following implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the uninsured rate in the U.S. leveled out between 2016 and 2017 – and then showed an increase from 8.7 percent in 2017 to 8.9 percent in 2018. While the uninsured rate in Kansas increased from 8.7 percent in 2017 to 8.8 percent in 2018, the change was not statistically significant. The estimates represent approximately 28.6 million uninsured Americans, including 250,000 uninsured Kansans, in 2018.
Census Bureau Releases Insurance Coverage Data
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released additional, limited data from the American Community Survey for population subgroups. However, statistical tests needed to compare Kansas and U.S. rates and trends over time cannot be performed with the limited data released. This report provides the limited data available at this time and KHI will provide further analysis when more data is released by the U.S. Census Bureau, expected to be in mid-October.
About Kansas Health Institute
The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.