Uninsured

New and noteworthy

Quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman reads, "when it comes to the “affordability crisis” driving the national discussion of health care today, the chronically ill, and most of all the chronically ill uninsured, are the tip of the spear."

The Group that Struggles the Most in American Health Care

In a new column, Dr. Drew Altman, KFF’s Founding President and CEO, previews findings about the chronically ill uninsured from a large KFF survey of 25,000 Americans focusing on the cost and access challenges facing the chronically ill, which will be released tomorrow. He writes: “There are more than enough needs to go around in American health care, but if I had to pick the one group that struggles the most with costs and access, it would be people with chronic illnesses who are also uninsured.”

Other “Beyond the Data” columns >>

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.

Data and analysis

The coverage gap exists because some states did not expand Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults under age 65 without dependent children with incomes at/below 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL)

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 ACA tax credits that would make coverage affordable.

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.

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

Stay informed.

Stay informed.

Filter

1,111-1,120 of 1,313 results

  • New Numbers on Enrollment of Uninsured Children

    Report

    This report reveals that the total number of children enrolled in state CHIP programs had grown to 1.8 million by December 1999, a 112% increase from December 1998. Although enrollment doubled in 20 states during that year, growth did begin to moderate in several states that had implemented their programs relatively earlier on. The report also demonstrates that enrollment of new children continued at roughly the same pace during the second half of 1999 as…

  • Issues in the 2000 Election:  Health Care

    Poll Finding

    Issues in the 2000 Election: Health Care The Washington Post/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University national survey on "Issues in the 2000 Election: Health Care" is the second in a series of surveys examining policy issues in the 2000 national elections. This survey, conducted July 5-18, 2000, of a nationally representative sample of registered voters also included an oversample of "health care or Medicare-oriented" registered voters. This survey and all surveys in this series, are…

  • Table

    Other Post

    SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA VERSUS THE U KEY HEALTH CARE FACTS IN CALIFORNIA AND THE U.S. California U.S. Percentage uninsured (non-elderly) (1998) 24.4% 18.3% Percentage of children uninsured (1998) 20.8% 15.5% Percentage of non-elderly enrolled in Medicaid: 1998 11.1% 8.4% 1994 14.3% 10.0% Percentage of employers that offer health insurance (1999) 48% 61% Percentage of workers with access to coverage for "non-traditional" partners (1999) 31% 18% Average monthly HMO premium for family coverage (1999) $405 $445…

  • New Report Looks at Health Care Trends in California Compared to Rest of Nation

    Report

    A new chartbook by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that on most, though not all indicators, California's health care system fares poorly when compared to the U.S. as a whole. The report, Health Care Trends and Indicators in California and the United States, shows that many more Californians have no health insurance than in the rest of the U.S., but when they do have insurance it tends to be more comprehensive and cost less than…

  • Uninsured in America: A Chart Book, May 2000

    Report

    This chart book provides a comprehensive portrayal of information related to the uninsured, including trends and major shifts in coverage, a profile of the uninsured, an assessment of why so many Americans are uninsured, and data documenting the difference that health insurance makes in the lives of Americans. The chart book includes detailed tables with data broken down by demographics and by state. Chartbook Fact Sheet: The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care

  • NewsHour/Kaiser Survey Underscores Difficulties Faced by Those Without Health Insurance

    Report

    The National Survey on the Uninsured from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation is this year's first nationwide survey on Americans' attitudes about the growing uninsured population and the difficulties uninsured people face getting medical care. The survey also assesses public attitudes on options to address the problem. News Release: NewsHour/Kaiser Survey Spotlights Misconceptions About the Medically Uninsured National Survey of the Uninsured Toplines/Survey Key Facts Chart Pack Fact Sheet Public…

  • The Uninsured & Access to Health Care

    Fact Sheet

    The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care Drawing on data from the updated Uninsured in America: A Chart Book (May 2000), this fact sheet outlines the problem of the uninsured in America, providing data on the growing number of uninsured Americans and a profile of the uninsured population. It also explores causes of uninsurance and synthesizes studies on the effects of going without health coverage. Fact Sheet

  • Health Coverage and Access:  Policy Issues For Women

    Report

    Health Coverage and Access: Policy Issues For Women This chartpack provides briefing materials that review the key health coverage and access concerns facing American women. Issues that are addressed include women's role in the health system, insurance coverage and access to care, managed care, contraceptive coverage, Medicare reform, and assistance with long-term care. Chart Pack

  • Medicaid Enrollment in 21 States: June 1997 – June 1999

    Report

    This report, Medicaid Enrollment in 21 States: June 1997 -June 1999, prepared by Health Management Associates, includes enrollment data obtained directly from state Medicaid and CHIP programs. Findings show that across the 21 states, which represent 73% of total Medicaid enrollment, enrollment fell from 23.2 million in June 1997 to 22.6 million in June 1998, but turned upward in June 1999 to 22.9 million. State-by-state data is included for: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Ilinois, Indiana,…