Minnesota Sees Huge Drop in Number of Uninsured Residents

Minnesota is making big strides in reducing the number of residents lacking health insurance.

According U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday, the percentage of Minnesotans without health insurance fell to 4.5 percent in 2015. It's the second year in a row that the percentage of uninsured Minnesotans has declined.

Minnesota has the fifth lowest rate in the country. Only Massachusetts (2.8), the District of Columbia (3.8), Vermont (3.8) and Hawaii (4.0) have lower rates.

About 245,000 Minnesotans did not have health insurance in 2015. That's down from 440,000 in 2013.

Minnesota was one of 32 states, including D.C., that expanded eligibility for Medicaid following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014.

Image via Shutterstock