Fewer LGBT Americans have health insurance than straight Americans. (iStockPhoto)

There was a significant decrease in the percentage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans reporting they didn't have health insurance following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act's insurance requirement, according to Gallup.

Open enrollment began Oct. 1, 2013, and closed March 31, 2014. During that time – the fourth quarter of 2013 to the second quarter of 2014 – the percentage of uninsured LGBT Americans dropped 4.4 percentage points. The decrease parallels a 3.5-point decrease for other Americans.

Still, LGBT Americans are less likely to be insured.



Courtesy of Gallup

A higher percentage of LGBT Americans struggled to afford healthcare or medicines, and fewer LGBT adults reported they had a personal doctor.

Disparities in access to health care for LGBT Americans have been documented in other reports as well, such as a National Health Statistics report from July.

That report also showed LGBT Americans were less likely to have a usual place to go for medical care. More lesbian and bisexual women reported they weren't able to obtain needed medical care during the last year because of cost.

LGBT Americans are also more likely to be affected by chronic disease, according to several studies.

The community was targeted by the Obama administration during the new health care law rollout. The law also banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for all plans in the marketplace.

