Analysis credits Medicaid expansion with drop in uninsured rate among older adults

New analysis from AARP and the Urban Institute found that Medicaid expansion in the ACA has led to a reduction in the uninsured rate among 50- to 64-year-olds from nearly 12 percent to 8 percent in 2014 (Source: “Medicaid Expansion Helps Cut Rate Of Older, Uninsured Adults From 12 To 8 Percent,” Kaiser Health News, May 22, 2015).

The study found the uninsured rate for people between age 50 and 64 who live in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid was twice as high—11 percent—as for those who live in states, such as Ohio, that have done so. 

The figures are based on the Urban Institute’s quarterly Internet-based Health Reform Monitoring Survey, which includes 8,000 adults between age 50 and 64.

During the same time period, the uninsured rate among all adults between age 18 and 64 fell from 17.5 percent to 12.8 percent.