The number of uninsured Latinos has dropped in the U.S., and credit is being given to the Affordable Care Act.

Latinos have been recognized as the minority group with the largest number of uninsured, but the ACA, also referred to as Obamacare, provided a double-digit decline in uninsured Latinos following the first open-enrollment period. According to The Commonwealth Fund, survey results found the uninsured rate for Latinos decreased from 36 percent to 23 percent. The 13-percent decline was attributed to young and less financially stabled individuals, two groups that "historically" had high rates of being uninsured.

"The Affordable Care Act appears to be working for millions of Latinos who, as a group, have long faced the nation's highest uninsured rates," said The Commonwealth Fund's Vice President for Survey Research and Evaluation Michelle Doty. "These substantial improvements will mean better health and health care for millions of people."

While the uninsured Latino rate dropped 13 percentage points, the rate among non-Hispanic white adults fell by 4 percent, from 16 percent to 12 percent.

Language barriers continued to be an issue, notably for Latinos seeking health insurance. The end of Obamacare's first open-enrollment period saw 30 percent of primarily Spanish-speaking Latinos uninsured, while 19 percent of primarily English-dominant Latinos remained uninsured.

Latinos were also found to be less aware about the insurance marketplaces introduced by the ACA. While 74 percent of non-Hispanic whites were aware of insurance marketplaces, potentially eligible Latinos accounted for 50 percent. While only 29 percent of potentially eligible Latinos visited an insurance marketplace, the rate was lower for primarily Spanish-speaking individuals.

"Even though Latinos were less likely to visit the insurance marketplace than non-Hispanic whites, they were more likely to enroll in a health plan when they did," The Commonwealth Fund noted.

Several states that have no expanded Medicaid despite the ACA passage have affected Latinos obtaining health insurance especially those with low income.

States with Medicaid expansion saw the rate of uninsured Latinos drop from 35 percent to 17 percent. According to The Commonwealth Fund, 20 million Latinos live in states without Medicaid expansion. Two states were highlighted for the large numbers of uninsured Latinos were California and Texas. The two aforementioned states have not expanded their Medicaid coverage. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10.2 million Latinos are eligible for health insurance, California leads the uninsured Latino population with 2.8 million followed by Texas' 2.5 million.

"This survey makes it clear that uninsured Latinos want the security of quality, affordable health coverage," said The Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal. "For Latinos to fully benefit from the Affordable Care Act, however, expanding Medicaid will be key, as will be efforts by state and federal officials to raise awareness of the marketplaces among Latinos and provide assistance to those looking for health insurance."

"Despite these remaining challenges, millions of Latinos are gaining new health insurance coverage and with it the financial ability to access health care when they need it. The increased access to affordable quality care will hopefully serve to improve the health and quality of life for millions of Hispanic Americans/Latinos in the United States," noted The Commonwealth Fund report, written by Doty, Blumenthal and Dr. Sara Collins.

The survey, titled "Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey," was conducted between April 9 and June 2.