The number of people in North Carolina without health insurance hit a new low in 2022

Data: U.S. Census Bureau ; Note: Estimated from administrative and survey data; Chart: Axios Visuals

The number of North Carolinians under 65 without health insurance hit a new low in 2022, according to new Census Bureau data , but still remains higher than the national average.

By the numbers: Around 11% of people in the state under the age of 65 were uninsured in 2022 — a significant improvement from 18.6% in 2006. Nationally, the uninsured rate is around 9.5%.

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The big picture: The uninsured rate fell in 627 U.S. counties and increased in only 23 between 2021 and 2022 — meaning Americans are trending toward being covered rather than not.

• Coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act and social safety net policies enacted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are helping reduce the uninsured rate, per KFF .

What we're watching: Medicaid enrollment has grown significantly in North Carolina this year after the state expanded who is eligible to sign up for it, potentially lowering the uninsured rate.

• North Carolina was the 41st state to adopt the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion when Cooper signed the legislation in 2023.
• So far, more than 500,000 North Carolinians have been enrolled in the Medicaid expansion.

Data: U.S. Census Bureau ; Note: Estimated from administrative and survey data; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios