The U.S. Census Bureau published updated statistics on the number of people insured in the United States and the types of health insurance they have.
Here are five takeaways from the bureau's Sept. 13 report, which covers estimates for 2021.
1. One million more people were insured in 2021 than in 2020.
In 2021, 27.2 million Americans, or 8.3 percent of the population, had no form of health insurance. This is a decrease from 2020, when 28.3 million Americans were uninsured.
2. Public coverage increased from 2020 to 2021.
In 2021, 35.7 percent of Americans had some form of public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid or VA), up 1.2 percent from 2020. The number of people using private health insurance decreased from 2020 to 2021 by .6 percent.
3. The rate of Medicaid coverage increased from 2020 to 2021
More people received Medicaid benefits in 2021, up .9 percent from 2020, an increase of around 3 million more people.
4. More children were insured in 2021 than in 2020
Around 5 percent of children were uninsured in 2021, a drop of .6 percent from 2020.
5. Around two-thirds of Americans are covered by private insurance.
Though the number of people using public insurance increased during 2021, the majority of Americans are covered by private insurers. In 2021, 66 percent of Americans had private insurance. The most common source of private insurance was employer-based plans, followed by direct-purchase plans.