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Racial Equity and Health Policy

Racism, Discrimination and Health

Health Coverage by Race and Ethnicity, 2010-2024

This brief examines trends in health coverage by race and ethnicity from 2010 through 2024. Since 2010, there have been large gains in health coverage across racial and ethnic groups but racial and ethnic disparities in coverage persisted. The largest gains occurred after implementation of the ACA coverage expansions in 2014.

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. Coverage disparities have persisted over time and, in some cases, widened despite earlier gains under the ACA.

Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy

The Growing Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care and Implications for Disparities

KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination and Health: Views on Racism and Trust in Key U.S. Institutions

Changes in Children’s Vaccination Rates by Race and Ethnicity

Survey of Immigrants

KFF-New York Times Survey: Immigrants Report Rising Fear, Negative Economic and Health Impacts, and Changing Political Views During the First Year of President Trump’s Second Term

The 2025 Survey of Immigrants, a partnership between KFF and The New York Times, takes an in-depth look at the experiences of immigrants during the first year of President Trump’s second term, including their worries related to increased immigration enforcement, their health and economic wellbeing, and the political views and preferences of immigrant voters. The survey paints a portrait of families under strain — where fear of detention and economic instability are negatively impacting immigrants’ health and reshaping immigrant families’ daily lives and views of U.S. political parties.

Read the News Release | Explore The New York Times’ Reporting

Immigrants

Many Lawfully Present Immigrants Will Lose Health Coverage Due to the 2025 Tax and Budget Law

This policy watch outlines the groups of lawfully present immigrants that will lose access to federally funded health coverage due to new restrictions on eligibility in the 2025 tax and budget law.
It also highlights the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) estimates of the number of lawfully present immigrants who will become uninsured due to the provisions, as well as estimated federal savings that will result.
CBO estimates that the law’s restrictions on eligibility will result in 1.4 million lawfully present immigrants becoming uninsured and reduce federal spending by $131 billion by 2034.

Related: Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

States Have Enacted or Proposed a Range of Legislation That Will Affect Immigrants’ Access to State-Funded Health Coverage

Health Issues for Immigrants in Detention Centers

Policy Bars Many Immigrants from a Broad Range of Federal Health and Social Supports

Role of Immigrants in the Hospital Workforce

Interactive Timeline

How History Has Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Timeline of Policies and Events

This interactive timeline explores how history has shaped racial and ethnic health disparities and the lasting effects that persist to this day.

The timeline describes major U.S. federal policies and events since the early 1800s that are linked to present-day health disparities. It also covers policies that impact health coverage and access to care, medicine, and social and economic policies that influence health as well as efforts to tackle inequalities.
the Essentials

  • Disparities in Health and Health Care: 5 Key Questions and Answers

    This brief provides an introduction to what health and health care disparities are, why it is important to address them, what the status of disparities is today, recent federal actions to address disparities, and key issues related to addressing disparities in the future.

  • Timeline: How History Has Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

    This timeline offers a historical view of significant U.S. federal policies and events spanning the early 1800s to today that have influenced present-day health disparities.

  • Health Policy 101: Chapter on Race, Inequality and Health

    Addressing persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care is important for improving the nation’s health and economic prosperity. KFF explains such disparities and the factors that drive them, examines the actions to address them, and outlines future considerations.

  • Key Data on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity

    Racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care remain a persistent challenge in the United States. An updated KFF resource examines how people of color fare compared to White people across 64 measures of health, health care, and social determinants of health.

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  • Women’s Health Data Book: A Profile of Women’s Health in the United States

    Fact Sheet

    The Women's Health Data Book: A Profile of Women's Health in the United States, offers the latest data and trends on the wide range of health issues that affect women across their life spans. Published by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, the Data Book is edited by Dawn Misra, Ph.D. This book addresses social and economic factors and provides up-to-date information on chronic conditions, reproductive health, mental health, violence,…

  • 2002 National Survey of Latinos

    Poll Finding

    The Pew Hispanic Center/Kaiser Family Foundation examines how members of the Hispanic community identify themselves, their views of the United States, their experiences with discrimination both within the Latino community itself and from non-Latino groups, their language abilities and preferences, their economic and financial situations and their experiences within the health care system. Summary of Findings Toplines

  • The Four Americas:  Government and Social Policy Through the Eyes of America’s Multi-racial and Multi-ethnic Society

    Poll Finding

    The Four Americas: Government and Social Policy Through the Eyes of America's Multi-racial and Multi-ethnic Society This report is the first of a series of surveys conducted jointly by The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University examining public knowledge, values and beliefs on major issues and challenges facing our nation, such as race, poverty, reducing the deficit, the role of government in our society, and our nation's obligations in the world. The hope is that this…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey of Latinos on HIV/AIDS – News Release

    Other Post

    Two New Studies On Latinos And AIDS In America: Survey Of Latinos Finds Widespread Concern About HIV/AIDS; Impact Of Disease Felt "Close To Home" Report Documents Impact Of AIDS/HIV On Hispanics And Offers Guidance For Community Health Providers Embargoed For Release Until:9:30 am, ET, Friday, May 1, 1998 For Further Information Contact: Tina Hoff or Matt James/KFF(650) 854-9400 Xiomara Sosa/COSSMHO(202) 797-4335 Washington, DC -- Next week Latino leaders will gather at Harvard University for the…

  • Race and Recession Survey

    Poll Finding

    The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University partnership conducted a survey to examine how the recession has reshaped the lives of Americans and takes a closer look at experiences by race and ethnicity. This survey is the 21st in a series of surveys dating back to 1995 that have been conducted as part of The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation Survey Project. Toplines (.pdf) Read The Washington Post articles on the survey:Economy poll: African Americans, Hispanics were…

  • Health Policy Challenges Affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives

    Other Post

    CALL FOR PAPERS: Health Policy Challenges Affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), in collaboration with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, is planning to publish a collection of papers on how the United States can more effectively meet the health care needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs). The guest editors are soliciting contributions to the “Health Policy and Ethics” and “Research and Practice” sections of the…

  • Five Basic Facts on Immigrants and Their Health Care

    Issue Brief

    As discussions on national health care reform move to the forefront, some have focused on the role of immigrants in the health care system, including their impact on the nation’s uninsured problem, their participation in public health coverage programs, and their use of hospital emergency rooms. To address questions about how immigrants use and affect the health care system, this brief draws on available research and data to highlight five key facts about immigrants’ health…

  • Medicaid Enrollees by Race/ Ethnicity, 2011

    Feature

    Medicaid Enrollees by Race/ Ethnicity, 2011 Download Source Urban Institute and KCMU estimates based on the Census Bureau's March 2012 Current Population Survey  Annual Social and Economic Supplement.  

  • Nonelderly Uninsured by Race/ Ethnicity, 2011

    Feature

    Nonelderly Uninsured by Race/ Ethnicity, 2011 Download Source Urban Institute and KCMU estimates based on the Census Bureau's March 2012 Current Population Survey  Annual Social and Economic Supplement.