Rural Americans are benefitting greatly from the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, rural citizens are gaining health insurance coverage faster than their urban counterparts,as member station KMUW reports.
This is especially striking given that two-thirds of uninsured rural people live in states like Kansas and Texas that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility.
One major reason for the increase is that the ACA has stopped insurance companies from turning away people with pre-existing conditions. This has allowed many rural residents who were formerly rejected to gain coverage. Though it’s been reported that premiums are rising, the average premium increased by only $5 a month between 2015 and 2016. Nine out of 10 rural residents seeking coverage qualify for federal tax credits.