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.

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

More KFF Health News

Stay informed.

Get KFF's latest on the Uninsured

Stay informed.

Get KFF's latest on the Uninsured

View the Latest: Uninsured

Filter

List Grid

1,111 - 1,120 of 1,309 Results

  • Health Challenges Facing the Nation

    Event

    Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation and executive director of the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, testified to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress on health insurance coverage and how the uninsured population remains one of the nation's most pressing health care challenges. Testimony (.pdf)

  • Changes in Health Care Coverage 2000-2001

    Report

    This background report analyzes 2001 U.S. Census Bureau data on health coverage to determine the trends that led to 1.4 million people losing health coverage from 2000 to 2001. Report

  • Understanding the Health-Care Needs and Experiences of People with Disabilities:  Findings from a 2003 Survey

    Report

    Understanding the Health-Care Needs and Experiences of People with Disabilities: Findings from a 2003 Survey People with disabilities are at risk in the health-care system because of their wide-ranging health-care needs, their relatively heavy use of prescription drugs, health-care and support services, and typically low incomes. A new survey of people with permanent mental and/or physical disabilities explores their health-care experiences and challenges in accessing and paying for care. Report (.pdf) Chartpack, video, press release,…

  • Challenges and Tradeoffs in Low-Income Family Budgets:  Implications for Health Coverage

    Report

    Challenges and Tradeoffs in Low-Income Family Budgets: Implications for Health Coverage - Report This report explores the experiences of families trying to make ends meet on limited budgets. By discussing these families’ work, spending patterns, financial challenges, priorities and tradeoffs and health care and coverage, this report intends to provide a deeper understanding of families’ financial pressures and choices and information to assess the impact of current and proposed policies. Report (.pdf)

  • Poll: Survey of the Non-Group Market Finds Most Say the Individual Mandate Was Not a Major Reason They Got Coverage in 2018, And Most Plan to Continue Buying Insurance Despite Recent Repeal of the Mandate Penalty 

    News Release

    Very Few Say They Would Want to Purchase a Short-Term Plan, A Regulation Being Drafted By The Trump Administration Nine in 10 enrollees in the non-group market say they intend to continue buying their own insurance even after being told that Congress has repealed the individual mandate penalty for not having coverage as of 2019, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The survey finds the mandate, part of the Affordable Care…

  • Federal Legislation Related to Medicaid and Opioids: What to Watch

    News Release

    With President Trump having declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, both the House and Senate are advancing legislation to address the crisis. A new issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation summarizes current federal legislative proposals related to Medicaid’s role in the opioid epidemic and identifies issues to watch as final legislation takes shape. The House has passed several bills culminating in the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment…

  • Health Care: Squeezing The Middle Class With More Costs and Less Coverage

    Event

    Health Care: Squeezing The Middle Class With More Costs and Less Coverage Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Foundation and executive director of the Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, testified to the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means about the economic challenges of rising health care costs and growing gaps in health coverage facing middle class families. Testimony (.pdf)

  • Health Care in New Orleans: Before and After Katrina

    Event Date:
    Event

    Kaiser Executive Vice President Diane Rowland testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations examining the continuing concerns and immediate needs in health care for New Orleans. Testimony (.pdf)

  • Community Health Centers

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet provides a basic overview of community health centers, covering issues such as the patients they serve, the services they provide and the financing they receive. Community health centers provided comprehensive primary care to 16.1 million patients in 2007. Fact Sheet (.pdf)