WASHINGTON — The number of Arizonans with health insurance increased in 2022, but experts say the post-pandemic increase has slowed since 1 as COVID-19 benefits are phased out. It is highly likely that there has been a sharp decline in 2017.
recent data According to the Census Bureau, the percentage of Arizonans with health insurance coverage increased from 89.3% in 2021 to 89.7% in 2022. While this is an improvement, it is still slightly behind Arizona, which saw an increase of 0.7% from 91.3% of Americans. Insurance will cover up to 92% of that period.
Experts say the increase is likely due to increased availability of Medicaid during the pandemic health emergency. But as the country has moved away from COVID-19 programs and protocols over the past year, one change is that states are no longer prohibited from removing people from Medicaid rolls. Thing.
Arizona’s Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, reported this month that it had been removed. 289,184 people from the roster since we started deregistering them earlier this year. AHCCCS estimates that up to 500,000 Arizonans could ultimately be removed.
Nationally, between 8 million and 24 million Americans lose coverage, That’s according to estimates from KFF, a nonprofit organization formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Dr. Daniel Dirksen, vice president of Arizona Health Sciences University, said losing coverage could be surprising for some people who currently have insurance.
“It often takes six to eight months for people to figure it out,” Dirksen said. “They know when it’s time to go for their annual doctor’s appointment or when they have to go to the emergency room for some reason. ‘Oh, I thought I had insurance, but I don’t have insurance anymore. ‘That’s what it feels like.’
Analysts said the drop in health insurance could be even deeper, but is likely supported by the current high level of employment.Arizona’s Unemployment rate It has hovered around a historic low of 3.5% for much of this year, and was estimated at 3.8% in August, the most recent month for which figures are available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We’re hiring more Arizonans, and the unemployment rate is going down. With more people working, we’re hiring more Arizonans, and the unemployment rate is going down. I also receive that benefit through the Lord.”
According to a Census Bureau report, the percentage of Arizonans eligible for Medicaid decreased from 21.4% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2022, while the percentage of state residents eligible through the workplace decreased from 50.9% to 51.2%. %. The remainder of the state subjects purchased privately.
Dirksen said many people lost their jobs and health insurance during the pandemic, which Medicaid expansion helped.
“Fortunately, many of these people were able to qualify for Medicaid when they lost their jobs and lost their employer-provided insurance,” he said. “So there was a safety net with public insurance provided by Medicaid.”
Morgan Finkelstein, Protect Our Care Arizona State Director, said another factor driving coverage is the Affordable Care Act. The law, enacted in 2010, required Americans to purchase a minimum level of health insurance and also provided financial assistance to make insurance more affordable.
“By expanding open enrollment and increasing outreach and enrollment assistance, we are making insurance more affordable and accessible than ever before for Arizona families, especially those who purchase their own insurance.” Finkelstein he said.
Arizona began eliminating the Medicaid safety net on April 1st. While AHCCCS enrollment is expected to continue declining through early 2024, advocates like Finkelstein said it’s important to continue working to expand coverage.
“We find that this country thrives when we take care of our people,” Finkelstein said. “Reducing the cost of life-saving drugs or not having to worry about finding out about uninsured illnesses will help people live their daily lives more easily and successfully. .coverage.”
—-
Stay in touch anytime, anywhere
