Rate of uninsured Minnesotans falls to 5.9 percent

New U.S. census statistics show that the percentage of Minnesotans without health insurance dropped sharply from 2013 to 2014.

In 2013, 8.2 percent of Minnesotans lacked health insurance. By 2014, that number had dropped to 5.9 percent.

"So that's an estimated 123,000 fewer Minnesotans lacking health insurance in a very short period of time," said Susan Brower, state demographer.

She said the drop is significant but not unexpected, because 2014 was the year the Affordable Care Act's health insurance mandate took effect.

"To know that more Minnesotans have health insurance means that they potentially are healthier," Brower said. "And it means that we're sharing the risk more, as more people — particularly young people — are brought into the pool."

Massachusetts had the lowest uninsured rate, at 3.3 percent. Texas came in the highest at 19.1 percent. Minnesota is among six states with uninsured rates of 7 percent or lower.