The report found that uninsured rates for minority groups in the U.S. plummeted between 2010 and 2022. Released on Friday According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The rise in the number of people with insurance shows the impact of the Affordable Care Act, former President Obama’s signature health care law.
The uninsured rate for Black Americans fell from 20.9% in 2010 to 10.8% in 2022, based on available census data analyzed in the report.
During that same time period, the uninsured rate for Latinos fell from 32.7% to 18%, and the uninsured rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives fell from 32.4% to 19.9%.
The uninsured rate for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders decreased from 16.6% to 6.2% from 2010 to 2022.
The Affordable Care Act was enacted under the Obama administration in 2010, coinciding with the beginning of the scope of census data analyzed in the report.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra praised the findings in a press release accompanying the report on Friday.
“Today’s data shows how much progress we’ve made in providing insurance to Black, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native populations who are disproportionately uninsured,” Becerra said.
The administration also announced it would invest $500 million in the agency’s Navigator program, which is designed to promote the ACA and help Americans understand the insurance options available to them under the law, in grants to be distributed over the next five years.
“HHS is redoubling our efforts by announcing a historic investment in Navigators to help them continue achieving record enrollment in underserved communities,” Becerra’s statement said.
The report comes nearly three months after the ACA turned 14 years old in March. President Biden and his campaign used the anniversary to highlight the threats that former President Donald Trump and Republicans have made to repeal the ACA since it was passed.
“Donald Trump tried to take away our health care,” said a Biden campaign ad released the same weekend.
“If he succeeds…45 million Americans could lose their health insurance, and you could be one of them,” the ad continues.
“Repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been included in nearly every Republican budget proposal since the law was passed,” Biden said in a post on social platform X on the anniversary of the ACA’s passage.
“The budget presented this week even includes cuts. I have blocked them before and I will block them again.” Biden’s posts continue.
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