From 2012-16, the number of uninsured people in the United States sharply decreased under the ACA, from 44.4 million to 26.7 million in the (pre-eminent) American Community Survey. In the last three years we lost about 15% of that progress, with total uninsured up to 29 million. https://twitter.com/SHADAC/status/1305951313314881536

2. So, even before the massive hit coverage levels are taking this year, uninsured numbers have been steadily deteriorating since President Trump took office. Key factors: allowing states to abuse the Medicaid eligibility determinations, scaring immigrants from signing up, ...

3. ...huge cuts to outreach and advertising, and ending the penalty for not having insurance (the "mandate") in the Republican tax cut, which took effect this year.

4. The Trump administration has downplayed the risk in all of those above steps. It was wrong. Meanwhile the Administration has also argued that increasing the availability of skimpy plans in the non-group market would increase coverage. That was also wrong.

5. These numbers are also terribly scary for what is happening in 2020. How many people who lost employer coverage are unaware of their options, especially in red states? How many immigrants are in front line jobs and afraid to get covered or even get care during the pandemic?

6. Each family or individual losing coverage means screenings missed, prescriptions unfilled, bankruptcies risked, and, ultimately, lives lost.

/End thread