A new Gallup/Healthways survey shows the number of uninsured has fallen to pre-recession levels, before so many Americans lost not only their jobs but their health insurance too.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but it wasn’t this way less than a year ago, even though the economy has long been picking up steam and employment continues to increase. Rather, at the end of last summer, the uninsured rate was about 18 percent, compared to 13.4 percent today.
What I’m trying to say is: Obamacare, Obamacare, Obamacare.
The Gallup chart shows the steep drop in numbers of uninsured people after the Affordable Care Act opened enrollment opportunities in October, 2013. And more people with health insurance means more people getting health services, one of the few segments of the economy not yet easily outsourced overseas. So that means economic growth across the board.
What’s not to love? I know, I know, it’s not universal care or a single-payer system but it’s another step away from health insurance being tied to employment, and that’s better for everyone.
