A recent Gallup poll – based on more than 45,000 interviews with adults aged 18 and older, from July 1 to Sept. 30, conducted as part of the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index – indicated the percentage of U.S. adults lacking health insurance rose in the third quarter of 2017 to 12.3%.

The uninsured rate is now the highest recorded since the last quarter of 2014 when it was 12.9%.

This increase in adults without health insurance
represents nearly 3.5 million Americans.

The study suggests several marketplace factors could be a contributing factor. Some insurance companies have stopped offering insurance through the exchanges, and the lack of competition could be driving up the cost of plans for consumers.

As a result, the rising insurance premiums could be compelling some to forgo insurance. The uncertainty about the healthcare law also may be driving the increase.

Some key poll findings include:

• The uninsured rate has risen by 1.8 points among those aged 35 to 64, compared with slightly smaller increases among younger (18 to 34) adults.
• The uninsured rate among black and Hispanic adults has increased by 1.5 and 1.6 points, respectively.
• The percentage of adults with self-paid plans has fallen by 1.3 points, from 21.3% to 20.0%, over this period.