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Looking at Census insurance data is a great example of how policy can truly move the needle on issues facing our communities. The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion have allowed hundreds of thousands of Ohioans to access the healthcare they need, and the number of people impacted by this policy grows each year.

In the state of Ohio, as in the nation, the number of uninsured people dropped once again in 2016. Between 2015 and 2016, an additional 102,548 Ohioans gained health insurance coverage, a statistically significant change. The number of uninsured people in the state dropped 14 percent. As of 2016, only 5.6 percent of Ohioans lacked health insurance coverage, compared to 6.5 percent in 2016.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

We also looked at some select counties in the state to see how they fared. Of the counties in the chart below, only one (Lorain) saw their uninsured rate rise from 2015 to 2016, and that change was not statistically significant. Counties that saw statistically significant decreases in uninsured people include Cuyahoga County, Franklin County, and Lucas County. In Cuyahoga County alone, an additional 15,000 people gained health insurance coverage between 2015 and 2016.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

It’s also noteworthy that uninsured rates in Ohio dropped among every age group, with statistically significant drops among children and working age adults. This is due, in large part, to Medicaid Expansion’s inclusion of low-income adults without children- a population that was previously very likely to go without health insurance.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Stay tuned to our blog throughout the day for more Census updates!