MORE PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, EARLY 2022 DATA SHOW

NCHS released the latest quarter of data on health insurance coverage in the United States, documenting that 4.4 million fewer people were uninsured in the first quarter of 2022 (26.4 million) compared to the first quarter of 2021 (30.8 million). 

The data come from the National Health Interview Survey’s Early Release Program, and show that overall the percentage of people who were uninsured decreased from 9.5% in the first quarter of 2021 to 8.0% in the first quarter of 2022 among people of all ages. This is the lowest recorded percentage of uninsured since the first tabulated Early Release estimates from 1997.

HISPANIC & NON-HISPANIC WHITE ADULTS DRIVE GAINS

There were some groups which contributed to this overall gain in insurance coverage.  The percentage of uninsured Hispanic adults ages 18-64 decreased from 31.1% in the first quarter of 2021 to 25.7% in the first quarter of 2022.  Among non-Hispanic White adults, there was also a decrease in the percentage of uninsured, from 8.7% in the first quarter of 2021 to 6.9% in the first quarter of 2022.

INCREASES IN PRIVATE COVERAGE

These same groups also experienced an increase in private health insurance coverage. The percentage of Hispanic adults with private coverage increased from 46.9% in the first quarter of 2021 to 51.7% in the first quarter of 2022.  Among non-Hispanic White adults, the percentage with private coverage increased from 74.2% in the first quarter of 2021 to 77.3% in the first quarter of 2022.

In addition, the percentage of all adults in the U.S. ages 18-64 with exchange coverage increased from Q3 2020 (4.0%) to Q1 2022 (5.4%).

Mid-year data for 2022 are expected to be released this Fall.