The State of Health Insurance: Ohio vs. Pennsylvania
The presidential campaign has moved 400 miles down Interstate 76 from Cleveland, OH to Philadelphia, PA, and there will be lots of comparisons made between the two conventions. But what about the differences in insurance coverage between Ohioans and Pennsylvanians? Let’s take a look.
| Health Insurance Coverage |
Ohio |
Pennsylvania |
| Statewide Population |
11.5M |
12.6M |
| Population with Coverage (2013 to 2014) |
88% to 93% |
90% to 92% |
| Population Covered by Type | ||
|
Employer |
50% |
53% |
|
Medicaid |
21% |
17% |
|
Medicare |
16% |
15% |
|
Nongroup |
4% |
6% |
|
Other |
1% |
1% |
| Employer-Based Coverage | ||
|
>50 Employees |
96% |
98% |
|
<50 Employees |
37% |
38% |
| Population Covered through Obamacare |
234,000 |
473,000 |
| Obamacare Coverage <$100/Month (after tax credits) |
41% |
51% |
| Population Covered by Medicaid Expansion |
587,000 |
108,000 |
What did we learn from this comparison?
- The effect of the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid expansion, in reducing the number of uninsured.
- The importance of employer-based insurance as the primary source of coverage for citizens in both states.
- The role of government programs for people who are aging (Medicare) or struggling (Medicaid).
- The ability of employees who don’t have employer-based insurance to buy coverage as individuals or through Obamacare.
Here’s to Mastering Health Insurance.
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, U.S. Health & Human Services