It's time to head back to school!
Take this quick quiz to test how much you know about health insurance in the United States!
Which of these states has not yet expanded Medicaid?






Would you believe the correct answer is Maine? Maine is among the 24 states that have decided not to expand Medicaid. This decision by the Maine legislature leaves about 22,000 people in the coverage gap, and cost the state $294 million in lost federal funding.
Source: Medicaid Expansion Map, The Commonwealth Fund, accessed August 28, 2015.


You're off to a great start! Maine is among the 24 states that have decided not to expand Medicaid. This decision by Maine legislature leaves about 22,000 people in the coverage gap, and cost the state $294 million in lost federal funding.
Source: Medicaid Expansion Map, The Commonwealth Fund, accessed August 28, 2015.
The uninsured rate in the United States has ______ since 2013.






No way! The uninsured rate among U.S. adults ages 19–64 fell from 20% in July–September 2013 to 13% in March–May 2015.
Source: Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015


You bet it has! The uninsured rate among U.S. adults ages 19–64 fell from 20% in July–September 2013 to 13% in March–May 2015.
Source: Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015


Even better: The U.S. uninsured rate dropped. The uninsured rate among U.S. adults ages 19–64 fell from 20% in July–September 2013 to 13% in March–May 2015.
Source: Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015
Each year insurers have the opportunity to adjust their premium rates for plans offered in the health insurance marketplaces. By what percentage did insurers change their rates for marketplace plans on average nationwide from 2014 to 2015?






No, though a decrease would have been welcome! Nationwide, marketplace premiums did not increase on average from 2014 to 2015, though there were substantial average premium increases in some states and declines in others. For example, Alaska saw a 31% increase in marketplace premiums, while Virginia saw a 56% decrease.
Source: J. Gabel, H. Whitmore, S. Stromberg et al., “Analysis Finds No Nationwide Increase in Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums,” The Commonwealth Fund Blog, Dec. 22, 2014.


Yes! Nationwide, on average across all states and all plans, marketplace premiums did not increase at all from 2014 to 2015, though there were substantial average premium increases in some states and declines in others. For example, Alaska saw a 31% increase in marketplace premiums, while Virginia saw a 56% decrease.
Source: J. Gabel, H. Whitmore, S. Stromberg et al., “Analysis Finds No Nationwide Increase in Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums,” The Commonwealth Fund Blog, Dec. 22, 2014.


Close, but the answer is 0%. Nationwide, marketplace premiums did not increase on average at all from 2014 to 2015, though there were substantial average premium increases in some states and declines in others. For example, Alaska saw a 31% increase in marketplace premiums, while Virginia saw a 56% decrease.
Source: J. Gabel, H. Whitmore, S. Stromberg et al., “Analysis Finds No Nationwide Increase in Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums,” The Commonwealth Fund Blog, Dec. 22, 2014.
What percentage of people who used their marketplace or Medicaid coverage in 2014 reported that they wouldn't have been able to afford or access care before?






Incorrect. The figure is actually higher! Sixty-two percent of adults who were enrolled in a marketplace plan or Medicaid said that they would not have been able to access or afford this care prior to getting their new insurance, according to the March–May 2015 installment of our ACA Tracking Survey.
Source: S. R. Collins, P. W. Rasmussen, M. M. Doty, and S. Beutel, Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015, The Commonwealth Fund, June 2015.


Correct! Our March–May 2015 installment of the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act (ACA) Tracking Survey suggests that ACA coverage is improving access to care. Sixty-two percent of adults who were enrolled in a marketplace plan or Medicaid at the time of the survey said that they would not have been able to access or afford this care prior to getting their new insurance.
Source: S. R. Collins, P. W. Rasmussen, M. M. Doty, and S. Beutel, Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015, The Commonwealth Fund, June 2015.
Which age group still has the highest rate of uninsurance?






You got it! While young adults have seen the largest decline in their uninsured rate of any age group, they are still disproportionately represented among the uninsured, with a 19% uninsured rate. By comparison, 13% of 35-to-49-year-olds and 8% of 50-to-64-year-olds were uninsured in 2015, according to The Commonwealth Fund’s Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey.
Source: S. R. Collins, P. W. Rasmussen, M. M. Doty, and S. Beutel, Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015, The Commonwealth Fund, June 2015.


No, younger than that. While large strides have been made since 2013 when 28% of 19-to-34-year-olds were uninsured, they still stand as the most uninsured group, with 19% uninsured. By comparison, 13% of 35-to-49-year-olds and 8% of 50-to-64-year-olds were uninsured in 2015, according to The Commonwealth Fund’s Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey.
Source: S. R. Collins, P. W. Rasmussen, M. M. Doty, and S. Beutel, Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015, The Commonwealth Fund, June 2015.
Get your grade!
You got 5/5!
Congratulations! You could teach this class yourself! You really have a knack for health policy. Here's a little recommended reading: Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.
You got 4/5!
Very good! I can tell you put a lot of work into preparing for this exam. Here's some recommended reading to add to your knowledge: Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.
You got 3/5!
You passed, but you'll have to hit the books a little harder before the next exam or your GPA is really going to suffer. Here's a little recommended reading, Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.
You got 2/5...
Technically, you passed. You're going to have a work a lot harder if you think you're going to make it out of this class. I recommend you brush up a bit before the next exam. I suggest you read Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.
You only got 1/5...
Well, I have to ask that you have your parents sign this and return it to me. In the meantime, I suggest you read Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.
You didn't get any correct!
Well, I have to ask that you have your parents sign this and return it to me. In the meantime, I suggest you read Americans' Experiences with Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage—Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, March–May 2015.