Arizona’s uninsured population falls to 17.5%
The number of people without health insurance coverage has fallen in Arizona. According to information from the Obama Administration, the state’s uninsured population fell from 20.4% in 2013 to 17.5% at the end of 2014. Federal officials are claiming that this is a victory for the Affordable Care Act, which has sought to make health insurance coverage more accessible to consumers throughout the country. According to Barack Obama, the healthcare reform plan has now been “woven into the fabric of America.”
Affordable Care Act subsidies are at risk, pending ruling on King v. Burwell
The Obama Administration is attempting to showcase the value of the Affordable Care Act in order to shed light on the way it has made health insurance more accessible to consumers. At the end of this month, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the King v. Burwell, which contests that the government cannot provide subsidies in federal exchanges. Since the majority of exchanges are managed by the federal government, and the majority of consumers receiving coverage through these exchanges also receive subsidies, the ruling could have a severe impact on the availability of health insurance coverage.
Federal law extends health insurance to 16 million
Arizona has seen a significant increase in the number of people that have health insurance coverage. Nationwide, the Affordable Care Act has extended insurance coverage to approximately 16 million people, bringing the nation’s uninsured population down to 11.9 as of the first quarter of 2015. The vast majority of these people rely on federal subsidies to help cover the cost of their insurance premiums.
Arizona may need to find a way to ensure coverage for consumers
Arizona does not manage its own health insurance exchange. As such, if the Supreme Court rules against federal subsidies, the state will have to find a way to ensure its populace maintains access to insurance coverage through its exchange. Some states are working on plans to address this issue, but there is no guarantee that consumers will be able to keep their coverage without considerable financial aid.