A new report from the Center for American Progress shows that the uninsured rate among low- and middle-income LGBT residents has fallen by a quarter since the Affordable Care Act took effect, according to a media release.
The report report relies on two surveys of LGBT Americans who earn less than 400 percent of the poverty line ( about $44,000 for an individual )the cut-off for any financial help buying insurance coverage under Obamacare. And it finds that, between 2013 and 2014, their uninsured rate fell from 34 percent to 26 percent.
The report's findings show significant drops in uninsured individuals across the board for different LGBT groups, as well as positive experiences among those who explored their options through Medicaid and the marketplaces, enrolled in coverage, and attempted to access health care using their new coverage.
However, the report notes that 26.8 percent of gay men, 20.5 percent of lesbians, 26.7 percent of bisexual people, and 34.7 percent of transgender people with incomes less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level did not have insurance in 2014. However, the report notes that 26.8 percent of gay men, 20.5 percent of lesbians, 26.7 percent of bisexual people, and 34.7 percent of transgender people with incomes less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level did not have insurance in 2014.
The report highlights several areas in which targeted efforts are still needed to help reach LGBT community members with accurate information about the law; encourage them to enroll in coverage; and ensure that coverage is affordable, adequate, and equitable.
The full report is at www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/report/2014/11/17/101575/moving-the-needle/ .