Fewer without health insurance

The rate of uninsured Americans has hit a five-year low, though it remains unclear whether implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is responsible.

A Gallup poll, which surveyed 19,000 adults between Jan. 2 and Feb. 10, found that an estimated 16 percent of Americans remain uninsured, the lowest rate since 2009, according to California Healthline. Compared to the last quarter of 2013, the rate of people enrolled in Medicaid has risen from 6.6 percent to 7.4 percent, while the rate of workers insured through their employers decreased by two percentage points, to 43.5 percent, in the same time period.

Gallup noted that any effect the ACA will have on uninsured rates might not be evident for several more months, as open enrollment for 2014 doesn’t end until March 31.