Small drop in number of uninsured in 2012, CDC estimates

New estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that last year more than 91 million people—including children—lacked health insurance for part or all of 2012, representing 29.7% of the U.S. population. That's compared with 30.4% the prior year.

In the year prior to being interviewed for the CDC's National Health Interview Survey, 57.7 million (1.6%) had been uninsured for at least part of the year and another 34.1 million (11.1%) were without coverage for more than a year where they took the survey.

Adults ages 19 to 25 saw a decline in the number of uninsured for at least part of the prior year from 2011, to 33% from about 36%. The survey found no difference in 2012 among the uninsured for part of the year of other ages.

The CDC reported 45.5 million people (14.7% of the population) were uninsured when they were interviewed for the survey.

At time of interview, 26.4% for adults were uninsured, compared with 6.6% for children under 18.

The state with the lowest uninsured rate last year was Massachusetts at 4.8%. Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas all tied for the state with the highest percent of uninsured, at 20.9%.

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