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Census Data Reveals Gains in Health Coverage, but Stagnation in Poverty Rates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2024
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org

Census Data Reveals Gains in Health Coverage, but Stagnation in Poverty Rates

(Washington, DC) – Last week, the Census Bureau released new data examining health insurance access, poverty rates, and income levels. While the report brings good news for young adults, it also highlights areas where more support is urgently needed. 

The data reveals that incomes for young adults are growing slowly, but health coverage has remained steady, thanks in part to improvements made to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, poverty in the U.S. remains a persistent challenge, with both the poverty and supplemental poverty rates showing little to no improvement. 

The decline in uninsured rates, 9.2 to 7.9 percent, underscores the effectiveness of the ACA, particularly following the expanded premium tax credits and some of the Medicaid protections during Covid-19 that made it easier for individuals to obtain and retain health insurance. Now is the time for legislators to build on this momentum and continue investing in the ACA, using the new data as a clear mandate to strengthen the program further.

However, despite economic growth, the report shows that income gains have been modest, while poverty and upplemental poverty rates remain unchanged. Median household income adjusted for inflation only grew by $3,000 and the poverty rate dropped less than half a percent. This stagnation is concerning, signaling that little progress has been made in addressing poverty in the U.S. The frustration is amplified by Congress’s failure to pass the bipartisan Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion bill, which could have provided much-needed relief to families.

This new data serves as a stark reminder that social programs like the CTC and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are effective tools for reducing poverty. With the evidence at hand, it is imperative for lawmakers to revisit these programs and focus on policies that provide tangible economic support to the most vulnerable, including young adults.

In response to the health insurance data, Martha Sanchez, Director of Health Care Policy and Advocacy at Young Invincibles said: 

“More people than ever have access to health coverage. This data confirms the trends we saw as a result of a historic Open Enrollment period earlier this year and underlines the importance of the ACA. It is imperative we continue to capitalize on this momentum and further invest and fund the ACA, as well as the ACA Marketplace to ensure people can secure affordable health insurance. Expanding the ACA should be a top policy priority for 2025 as we are directly seeing it help more people access health insurance. This is a critical period of opportunity to continue to reduce uninsured rates and make strides to strengthen access to health care in America.”

In response to the income and poverty data, Alex Lundrigan, Federal Workforce and Finance Policy Coordinator at Young Invincibles said: 

“The data released by the Census Bureau carries some optimistic points but is largely overshadowed by a glaring issue that Congress failed to address this year: poverty. While real incomes grew, albeit marginally, the poverty rate remained stubbornly unchanged—despite having the tools at hand to tackle it. Multiple bills in Congress aimed at expanding the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit were left unpassed. The message Congress has sent is clear: addressing poverty isn’t a priority.”

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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org