Births by Detailed Hispanic Origin of Mother
disparity, Disparities
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In 2024, the overall uninsured rate increased for the first time since 2019 as pandemic-era continuous enrollment in Medicaid came to an end, with significant increases among Hispanic, Black, and White people under age 65. These coverage losses were largely driven by the expiration of policies to stabilize and expand access to affordable coverage that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was an increase in life expectancy between 2021 and 2023 across all racial and ethnic groups. American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people experienced the largest increase in life expectancy of 4.5 years during this time, followed by Hispanic (3.5 years) and Black people (2.8 years).
While the exact reasons for the recent declines in early prenatal care use are not known, disparities in maternal and infant health reflect underlying inequities in insurance coverage, access to care, and social and economic factors.
This analysis examines how people of color fare compared to White people across 64 measures of health, health care, and social determinants of health using the most recent data available from federal surveys and administrative sets as well as the 2023 KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health.
Data show that children’s vaccination rates, including MMR and seasonal flu vaccines, have declined in recent years largely due to decreases in vaccinations among White and Asian children. At the same time, and despite the declines among White and Asian children, Black and AIAN children remain least likely to have received recommended childhood vaccinations and the MMR vaccine specifically.
A new KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants reveals deepening anxiety and fear among immigrants of all statuses amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and restrictive policies. Findings from the new survey are detailed in three KFF reports and help inform the reporting in a package of news stories by Times reporters.
Amid the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement efforts, one in five immigrants say they personally know someone who has been arrested, detained or deported since January. Four in ten worry they or a family member could face such action. Many immigrants, including naturalized citizens and those who are lawfully present, say they feel less safe, are avoiding activities outside their home, and no longer view the U.S. as a good destination for immigrants.
This issue brief provides an overview of Executive Order (EO) 14224 designating English as the official language of the United States and its potential implications for multilingual resources, including data on the shares of individuals with LEP across different socioeconomic characteristics based on KFF analysis of 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) data.
This Health Policy 101 chapter provides an overview of racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care and the factors that drive them, including the role of historical events and social and economic factors. It discusses why addressing disparities is important for health and economic prosperity, reviews recent federal policy actions that may impact disparities, and outlines future considerations.
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