HHS reports 40% decline in uninsured black Americans with the Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report March 8 that shows historic gains in healthcare coverage among black Americans. The report, produced by researchers in HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), shows that since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage provisions beginning in 2010, the uninsured rate among black Americans under age 65 decreased from 20 percent in 2011 (about 7.1 million people) to 12 percent in 2019 (about 4.4 million people), a decline of 40 percent. 

The report also highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s legislative and administrative actions over the past year to expand affordable coverage options through American Rescue Plan subsidies, a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP), and enhanced outreach to Black Americans.

“Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act nearly 12 years ago, the law has significantly expanded access to life-saving health coverage, including for Black communities across the country,” said Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in a prepared statement. “Advancing health equity is one of my top priorities, and, in pursuit of this goal, CMS invested in significant outreach to the Black community during this recent Open Enrollment period. The coverage gains achieved during Open Enrollment are just a first step – CMS will continue to advance health equity by expanding coverage access through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare and the ACA Marketplaces.”