Tribal health insurance coverage rose, but still trailed U.S. average
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Megan Bridgeman/Cronkite News
Dr. Dena Wilson examines patient Doris Miguel at the Indian Health Service in Phoenix. The number of IHS patients with health insurance rose in recent years, but still trailed rates in the rest of the nation.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The number of people who showed up at Indian Health Service facilities with health insurance rose from 64% of patients in 2013 to 78% in 2018, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
The report said growth in coverage was highest in states, like Arizona, that expanded their Medicaid programs as part of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
Despite the gains, however, the share of people without insurance at the 73 IHS facilities in 2018 was still more than double the national average for health care coverage that year.
Calls to tribal officials...
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