Home Uninsured Topics

Uninsured

New and noteworthy

Affordability Is the Issue Now, But Look for the Uninsured to Make a Comeback

A new column on the uninsured from President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman explains: “The uninsured is not the most politically salient problem in health care now, that’s affordability, nor is it the non-problem some say it is. But it’s coming back. And the problem of the chronically ill uninsured is glaring.” Read more.

Key Facts about the Uninsured Population

The number and share of people without insurance grew in 2024, increasing for the first time since 2019, according to KFF’s analysis of data from the American Community Survey (ACS). This issue brief describes trends in health coverage in 2024, examines the characteristics of the uninsured population , and summarizes the access and financial implications of not having coverage.

More on the uninsured population >>

Data and analysis

The Uninsured and Health Coverage

This Health Policy 101 chapter examines the share of the United States population who are uninsured, highlighting their demographics and the challenges they face because of the lack of coverage.

State Health Facts: Health Coverage & the Uninsured

Get data on health insurance status for the population overall and broken down by age, gender, and income. More than 800 up-to-date health indicators at the state level can be mapped, ranked, and downloaded through State Health Facts.

How Many Uninsured Are in the Coverage Gap?

An estimated 1.4 million uninsured individuals in the 10 states without Medicaid expansion, including many working adults, people of color, and those with disabilities, remain in the “coverage gap,” ineligible for Medicaid or for tax credits that would make ACA coverage affordable to them.

Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

This fact sheet provides an overview of health coverage for immigrants based on data from the 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants. As of 2023, half of likely undocumented immigrant adults and one in five lawfully present immigrant adults reported being uninsured.

Who was uninsured in 2024?

Latest Polling
9.8%

The share of people under age 65 without insurance
62%

The share of uninsured adults who said they were uninsured because coverage is not affordable
59%

The share of uninsured adults who said they or someone living with them had problems paying for health care
39%

The share of uninsured adults who reported delaying or not getting needed care or medication due to cost
Other key facts about the uninsured >>

Latest News

No Posts to Show

More KFF Health News

Subscribe to KFF Emails

Choose which emails are best for you.
Sign up here

View the Latest: Uninsured

Filter

List Grid

1,131 - 1,140 of 1,309 Results

  • Choices Under the New State Child Health Insurance Program: What Factors Shape Cost and Coverage? – Policy Brief

    Issue Brief

    Choices Under The New State Child Health Insurance Program: What Factors Shape Cost And Coverage? January 1998 The State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, provides over $20 billion in federal funds over five years to cover low-income uninsured children. This program gives states considerable flexibility in designing expanded health insurance coverage for children. The way states design their programs -- use of Medicaid or a…

  • Emergency Departments Under Growing Pressure

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief relies on interviews with practicing clinicians to explore the impact of the recession on hospital emergency departments that are under growing pressure as patient volume increases, health coverage declines and medical costs present new challenges to unemployed families. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • National Council of Jewish Women features article on “Diagnosing Women’s Health Care”

    Other Post

    National Council of Jewish Women features article on “Diagnosing Women’s Health Care” Kaiser Vice President and Director of Women's Health Policy, Alina Salganicoff, authored an article titled "Diagnosing Women’s Health Care" featured in the National Council of Jewish Women's magazine, NCJW Journal, volume 29. The article highlights the special challenges that many women face in affording and accessing comprehensive health care in the U.S. It discusses the state of women's health coverage, emerging issues for…

  • Useful Resources as the New U.S. Census Numbers on Health Coverage are Released

    Other Post

    With the U.S. Census Bureau releasing its annual update on health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured Americans shortly, Kaiser Family Foundation resources may be helpful. The Foundation and its largest program area, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, produce several informational resources that analyze America's health insurance coverage, as well as the policy issues and public opinion regarding the uninsured. The Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured Project is an ongoing…

  • SCHIP Enrollment in 50 States: June 2005 Data Update

    Report

    This report finds that monthly SCHIP enrollment reached a record high of more than 4 million in June 2005, reversing the decline seen in the previous 12 month period. SCHIP enrollment rose in all but nine states, including large increase in California, Georgia, and Illinois. Report (.pdf)

  • Health Affairs Article: From ‘Soak The Rich’ To ‘Soak The Poor: Recent Trends In Hospital Pricing

    Report

    Health Affairs Article: From 'Soak The Rich' To 'Soak The Poor': Recent Trends In Hospital Pricing The May-June 2007 issue of Health Affairs features a Foundation-supported study on recent trends in hospital pricing, including comparisons of rates charged to self-pay patients versus those with insurance coverage. The article also examies three specific policy options that could lower the markups for self-pay patients: a voluntary effort by hospitals, litigation, and legislation Health Affairs article "From 'Soak…

  • Health Insurance Coverage in Rural America

    Report

    This chartbook presents analysis of national data on health insurance coverage based on a county's proximity to a large urban area. It answers questions of how much health insurance coverage differs among people living in rural vs. urban communities, as well as, the differences in socio-economic and employment characteristics of those living in rural vs. urban counties. Chartbook (.pdf)

  • Health Care in New Orleans from the People’s Perspective

    Event

    Diane Rowland, executive vice president of Kaiser, testified to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation about the health care needs of New Orleans' residents and their access to health services in the area. Her testimony was a part of the hearing, "Post-Katrina Health Care in the New Orleans Region: Progress and Continuing Concerns, Part II." Testimony (.pdf)

  • NPR/KFF/HSPH Survey: Public Views on SCHIP Reauthorization: Summary

    Poll Finding

    This summary provides an overview of the results of an October 2007 survey conducted jointly by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health on the public’s views and opinions of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and the pending legislation surrounding its reauthorization. Summary (.pdf)

  • Eroding Access among Nonelderly Adults with Chronic Conditions: Ten Years of Change

    Report

    A Kaiser study published as a Health Affairs web-exclusive article finds the number of working-age adults who have major chronic conditions grew by 25 percent between 1997 and 2006 and those without health coverage in this group experienced substantial erosion in access to health care. The study also reveals that finds the cost of prescription drugs more of a problem today for all with chronic conditions, regardless of insurance coverage status. Health Affairs Abstract Health…