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Finally, some good news

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Illinois

* From the US Department of Health & Human Services…

Illinois Uninsured Rate Reaches Historic Low

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest National Health Interview Survey. The survey shows that the uninsured rate for all ages fell to 9.1 percent in 2015, making it the first year in our nation’s history that fewer than 1 in 10 Americans lacked health insurance.

In addition, the survey showed that the uninsured rate in Illinois had reached 6.8%.

* The full report is here. If you scroll way down, you’ll see that Illinois’ uninsured rate in 2013 for people aged 18-65 was 17.8 percent. By 2015 it was 9.9 percent. That’s a 44 percent decrease.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:20 pm

Comments

I blame Obama for this.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:23 pm
Thanks, Obama!

Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:24 pm
ACA has helped so many people. So so many people.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:24 pm
Yay for yet Another government program that most people it was ” designed to help” can’t afford. Brought to you by people whom upon it has no impact. Rates up 66% in 2 1/2 years.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:28 pm
Very good news! Now my downer- that was 2015. What has happened, and could happen since with all the hulabaloo in Illinois???

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:28 pm
Thanks, Obama.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:29 pm
This is great news.

The premium increases aren’t so great, but ideally they will get those under control as well.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:29 pm
=ACA has helped so many people. So so many people.=

It has hurt some too, or at least caused some to be hurt. We could not afford the $240,000 it would cost to insure our non-cert staff so their hours were reduced.

The law is wrought with so many landmines, navigating it has required an enormous amount of time from already stressed staff. I am just waiting for the IRS to contact us with a violation notice as I am sure many will be contacted.

I am glad more were able to find insurance, that is a good thing. It does come at a cost that some of us are struggling with though.

With respect

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:34 pm
Now let’s work on getting the cost of medical care down.

Also, lets get some doctors for our Vets. It takes months for them to see a doctor.

Comment by Groucho Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:34 pm
Texas, who is revered in GOP circles and has not participated in the medicare expansion provided for by the ACA, is WORST in nation at 16.8%.

just sayin’.

Good job Illinois taking care of people. Will we be able catch up with the rest of the First World on this? Maybe so.

Now if we could only get some reasonable deductibles so people could use their insurance. One of these days the actual providers will realize they are being squeezed by insurance companies….

A free clinic in Los Angeles had 1000s show up last month, many getting services they could not afford due to high deductibles.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/free-medical-clinic-in-los-angeles-draws-thousands/

Comment by cdog Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:35 pm
Just wait until all the locked out / on strike State workers and teachers lose their health insurance …

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:37 pm
The 44% decrease almost matches the amount our health insurance premiums have increased over the same period of time. Wasn’t it supposed to get less expensive for everyone?

Comment by Really? Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:41 pm
In addition, wait till people figure out that you do not have to be employed full time to have health insurance. That is the real dinosaur of the system.

Comment by Dean Walcott Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Good news done on Gov. Quinn’s watch, and Rauner wouldn’t have supported it. He didn’t support Medicaid expansion. Who knows what he would have done in 2009-2010 when the law was put together.

Comment by Moist von Lipwig Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:11 pm
Because we wanted health care reform but we had to settle for insurance reform.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:14 pm
Rich, is this due to Obama-Care?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:37 pm
The first time the uninsured rate is below 10 percent. Yet Trump and the GOP promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as if it is not the reason for the dramatic drop in the uninsured rate.

Comment by anon Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:07 pm
All this will be sacked if you listen to the GOP.
Oklahoma bought into Obama Care today,

Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:21 pm
That almost makes me feel like I live in a blue state. The plutocrats will deny any benfits attributable to these figures.

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:32 pm
The black guy did it.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:37 pm
Not only is insurance not care, but it also most certainly not health.

Comment by So what Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 6:18 pm
Um, insurance helps pay for health care. Do you propose doctors be public workers that are unionized?

Comment by Tone Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:25 pm
ACA expansion of Medicaid to single adults from 19 - 64 who fall under the poverty line. As a Human Services Caseworker, I helped many get the healthcare they need.

Comment by DHSJim Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 11:41 pm
It’s great to see such a sharp drop in the number of uninsured. For that I thank President Obama. We can see the sharp drop in other states as well.

Medicaid expansion has helped so many people, and some Republicans at the state level have seen the wisdom and compassion and accepted Medicaid expansion.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:57 am
Fresh from NPR this morning- worth a listen:

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/18/478488944/how-obamacare-affects-our-wallets-and-debt-ratio

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 8:04 am
Weren’t we supposed to be experiencing armageddon at this point, or does that come later?

Comment by Bronco Bahma Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 8:22 am
Rauner must think this is a disaster. He better hurry up and completely ruin health insurance for public employees.

Comment by kimocat Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:02 am