Every year the U.S. Census Bureau publishes a report called “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States,” with graphics and statistics on insurance coverage for Americans, using data from the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey. Navigate to the PDF report for the most recent year available. This can be found in the Census’ “Publications,” at https://www.census.gov/topics/health/healthinsurance/ library/publications.html,or by searching the web for“Health Insurance Coverage in the United States.” As of this writing, the most recent report, published in 2018, was found at https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/demo/p60264.pdf.

a. Find a graphic depicting the U.S. uninsured rate over time. In what year did the largest change in the uninsured rate occur?

What explains this change? Prior to that year, what was the trend in the uninsured rate? What was the trend after that year?

b. What states have the highest and lowest uninsured rates?

What states have seen the greatest drop in the uninsured rate over the past several years? What states have seen the greatest increase?