Minn. Health Dept.: Minnesota's Uninsured Rate Hits All-Time Low Despite Coverage Lapses, Affordability Concerns
New data released by the
The data comes from the
According to the data, the percent of Minnesotans without health insurance fell to 3.8% in 2023, an all-time low for the 22-year survey. Though the difference is not statistically significant from the previous survey, an estimated 11,000 fewer Minnesotans were uninsured in 2023 compared to 2021.
"We are encouraged by
Researchers concluded that the commitment made by the state to prevent eligible Minnesotans with Medical Assistance (MA) from losing coverage and becoming uninsured after the end of COVID-19 protections has thus far paid dividends in helping to keep the overall uninsurance rate low. They also acknowledge that these efforts should continue to prevent future coverage interruptions.
Another area where the state's uninsured rate showed improvement is in racial disparities among Hispanic Minnesotans, which fell from 21.4% in 2021 to 11.4% in 2023. But researchers note that only tells a part of the story. The data shows there is still work needed in this area to close the sizable gap in uninsurance rates between Minnesotans of color and
"Although
Most uninsured Minnesotans experience long-term uninsurance, lacking insurance coverage for a year or longer. In 2023, however, they accounted for a smaller number of the uninsured and a smaller share, falling from 82.7% the year before to 74.5%. In contrast, the number of people with shorter gaps of insurance coverage increased in 2023, impacting approximately 16,000 more Minnesotans. The short-term uninsured accounted for 25.5% of all uninsured in 2023, up from 17.3% in 2021.
Half of the people experiencing short-term uninsurance in 2023 previously had group coverage, while 27.5% previously had public coverage. This is a stark contrast to 2021 when MA redeterminations were paused and 81.3% of those experiencing short-term uninsurance were previously enrolled in group coverage.
"The increase in prior public program coverage among the short-term uninsured may be an early warning sign that people no longer eligible for public program coverage are not successfully transitioning to other coverage as was hoped for," said
Concerns over the financial protections provided by health insurance also edged higher in 2023. Minnesotans expressed increased anxiety about their ability to both cope with high deductibles and be protected from large medical bills by their insurance coverage. These cost concerns saw the rates of forgone care due to costs climb from 20.2% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2024, returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.
"Reports of forgone care due to costs between 2021 and 2023 increased for all Minnesotans," said
Lower income Minnesotans, Minnesotans of color and people with group coverage experienced the largest increases of forgone care according to the data, while uninsured Minnesotans had the highest rates.
"Reports of forgone care due to costs in 2023 are well above statewide rates among people in low-income households (under 200% of poverty) and Black, Indigenous and Hispanic people in
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Original text here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2024/uninsured040324.html
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