ACA Has Helped Uninsured with Pre-Existing Conditions

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Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came into law, millions of Americans have obtained coverage. Millions also no longer face denials or higher costs because of their medical histories. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that, between 2010 and 2014, the share of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions fell by 22%.

“Today, thanks to Affordable Care Act protections, the uninsured rate is at its lowest level in history and millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions like asthma or cancer no longer have to worry about being denied coverage because of their medical history,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a statement. “This is clear and measurable progress, and we shouldn’t turn the clock back to a time when people were denied coverage.”

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The total number represented by this shift is over 3.6 million. Overall the uninsured rate in the U.S. has also fallen by 22%. In analyzing the data, HHS estimates that 51% of non-elderly Americans (133 million people) have a pre-existing health condition. These include many common ailments that disproportionately affect the Latino population such as high blood pressure, behavioral health disorders, asthma or chronic lung disease, and cancer.

Up to 84% of Americans aged 55-64, and up to 75% of Americans aged 45-54 have a pre-existing conditions that could have been the basis for “insurer discrimination” before 2014.

The deadline to obtain health coverage through the HealthCare.gov is January 31, 2017.

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