Look At How Many Obamacare Enrollees Were Uninsured: 5.4 Million

[Playinghardball]

As we observed earlier this week, one of the obsessions of opponents of the Affordable Care Act is the question of how many enrollees in Obamacare health plans already had insurance. The goal is to knock down the latest enrollment numbers by suggesting that most of the 7.1 million people enrolled through the individual insurance exchanges just moved from one insurance plan to another in a waste of time and effort. The real figure probably won’t be known for weeks, even months. But researchers at the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center have weighed in with their own estimate. They’re figuring that the ACA has reduced the number of uninsured Americans by 5.4 million from the first quarter of 2013 through early March this year.

Their estimate is based on data from their March 2014 Health Reform Marketing Survey, which consists of public polling. Their finding is that the uninsurance rate for adults ages 18–64 was 15.2% for the nation in early March, a decline of 2.7 percentage points since September 2013, just before open enrollment on the exchanges began Oct. 1. ”This represents a gain in coverage for about 5.4 million adults,” they write. Although the Urban Institute figures aren’t keyed to the enrollment figures, it’s worth observing that if all those newly insureds were among those who signed up on the individual exchanges, that would mean that of the 7.1 million enrollees, 77% were previously uninsured.

More here: http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-obamacare-enrollees-were-uninsured-20140403,0,3487004.story#axzz2xsdlUZSN

http://theobamadiary.com/

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. That was a stunning number. Since the deadline, we've been told that these...

were folks who lost their insurance because of Obamacare. The foes will never stop trying to undermine the ACA, just like Medicare.

[GOPee]

5. GREAT NEWS.

Finally, the real numbers are coming out to counter the loud voices of doom on the other side, and some on this side as well. If this keeps updating I wouldn't worry about the midterms.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Exactly, and welcome to DU!

[Skink]

2. I became uninsured this year

the aca was put in place just in time. I like it better.

[Hissyspit]

3. "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated in March 2012 that the ACA would newly insure

30-33 million people, leaving 26-27 million uninsured in 2016."

[brett_jv]

4. Be interesting to know also how many were able to significantly UPGRADE their plans ...

Thanks to the ACA. We upgraded my wife from a crappy 10K deductible plan that she got back when she was healthy. Ongoing chronic health problems SINCE then would've had her 'locked in' to that plan (if they didn't just decide to drop her whenever they wanted to, which they also could've done pre-ACA), but thanks to ACA, and the new rules re: pre-existing conditions, we were able to switch her to an awesome $750 deductible PPO plan for only about 2.5x more than what we were paying for the other plan ... a plan which no-doubt would've cost WAY WAY more under the old rules (i.e. be unaffordable) ... if any new insurer would've even taken her on at ALL with her recent health problems!?!

There's a LOT of nuance that should be going into any proper/thorough assessment of how much Obamacare is helping the People, aside from the overly-simple 'how many people have a plan now that didn't before' metric.

[Dopers_Greed]

6. The press seemed to have turned and are embracing the ACA now

I wonder if they'll run positive stories with the same enthusiasm that they were running the hit pieces a few months ago.

[nxylas]

9. I think the Ted Cruz Facebook poll was a turning point

It allowed reality to finally puncture the Beltway bubble. But still expect to hear a lot about "young invincibles" from Republican commentators again now that their other line of attack has been taken away from them. And, of course, BENGHAZI!!!11eleven

[kokobell616]

8. Judge outcomes not shortcomings

I believe time will judge the ACA in a positive light. After some of the most detestable 'public awareness' ads ever sponsored there still positive signs going forward. The more people involve themselves in this program the better it will become. Sensible improvements should always be welcome. Liberal or conservative, political parties have no copyright on smarts. Reason and prudence should rule amid forests of innuendo and bravado.