Uninsured

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.

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 >>

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

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  • Expanding Health Insurance Through Tax Reform

    Report

    This paper discusses the impacts of the Heritage Foundation proposal for expanding health insurance coverage. Under the proposed tax reform, the employer tax exclusion and all other deductions for health-related expenses would be repealed. A new refundable tax credit would be created for unreimbursed medical expenses. This paper is part of the Kaiser Incremental Health Reform Project. Issue Paper

  • 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

  • Putting Express Lane Eligibility into Practice

    Report

    A new report details how the practice of express lane eligibility, or utilizing information from other public benefit programs, can quicken the enrollment of low-income children into the Medicaid and CHIP programs. REPORT Download

  • Medicaid and Prescription Drugs

    Fact Sheet

    Summarizes the coverage of outpatient prescription drugs by Medicaid. Many low-income seniors and other Medicaid recipients rely on this benefit as their only means of drug coverage. Information on the drug rebate program and utilization management procedures is included, as well as data on who uses the benefit, how much is spent per enrollee, and what the data says about future trends. Fact Sheet : An Overview

  • The Key to the Door: Medicaid’s Role in Improving Health Care for Women and Children

    Report

    This article, authored by Diane Rowland, Alina Salganicoff, and Patricia Keenan of the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, assesses Medicaid's contributions as a public financing program for health insurance coverage for the poor over the last three decades. It reviews Medicaid's impact on the low-income population and discusses the limitations of the program as a strategy for improving the health of low-income groups. While gaps in coverage and limitations in access persist between…

  • Medicaid’s Role for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

    Fact Sheet

    Medicaid's Role for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries An overview that identifies low-income Medicare beneficiaries (dual eligibles), how Medicaid can provide care for them, and the challenges to accessing care. Fact Sheet: Medicaid's Role for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

  • Restructuring Medicaid Financing: Implications of the NGA Proposal

    Report

    An analysis of the National Governors Association proposal to restructure Medicaid, including the financial impact of the core of the proposal. The report considers possible responses to the reforms and outlines some issues to consider as policymakers think about reforming the program.

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Field Institute Survey of Californians on the Health Care Initiatives, Propositions 214 and 216 – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    Kaiser Family Foundation/Field Institute survey of Californians on the Health Care Initiatives, Propositions 214 and 216 August 14-21, 1996 September 23-30, 1996 Questionnaire and Toplines 1. Are you currently covered by medical insurance or some other form of government or private health plan that will pay all or part of your doctor bills or hospitalization should you require it? August 1996 September 1996 Yes, covered 81% 82% No, not covered 19% 18% Don't know *…