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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251 - 260 of 1,310 Results

  • NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance

    Poll Finding

    This survey conducted jointly by NPR and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health examines how the public views different approaches for expanding health coverage, including provisions that would require individuals to purchase insurance or parents to obtain coverage for their children. The survey looks at whether or not the public supports such provisions, the major reasons behind their views, and how opinions differ among Democrats, Republicans…

  • Medicare: Comparison of the Candidates’ Proposals

    Fact Sheet

    Medicare: Comparison of Candidate's Proposals Download a printable pdf of this document Bush-Cheney1 Kerry-Edwards2 General approach Supports greater role for private plans under Medicare to give seniors greater choice of health plans. Supports giving seniors a choice of a health plan that’s right for them. Opposes privatization of Medicare that causes benefit cutbacks. Opposes forcing seniors into HMOs to get drug benefits or affordable premiums. Market competition Supports competition between Medicare private plans and the…

  • The Economic Downturn and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2003

    Report

    This report shows that number of uninsured Americans under age 65 increased by 5.1 million between 2000-2003 largely driven by continuing declines in employer sponsored insurance. For children, this decline was more than offset by increases in enrollment in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), resulting in a decrease in the number of children without coverage. The same growth in public coverage did not occur for adults, and as a result all…

  • NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance – Toplines

    Poll Finding

    These toplines present detailed survey results from a February 2008 survey conducted jointly by NPR and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health that examines how the public views different approaches for expanding health coverage, including provisions that would require individuals to purchase insurance or parents to obtain coverage for their children. A nationally representative sample of 1,704 adults participated in telephone interviews from Feb. 14-24, 2008.…

  • Risk Selection Issues Under Medicare Reform Proposals

    Report

    This report compares the provisions designed to guard against risk selection among the Medicare population in both the Congressional Balanced Budget Act of 1995 and in the President's budget plan released in December 1995. The report also explores provisions in both that may exacerbate the potential for risk selection. Report:

  • Seniors and Prescription Drugs: An 8-State Survey

    Report

    A new study conducted by researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Commonwealth Fund, reports results from a 2001 survey of 10,927 noninstitutionalized seniors in eight geographically diverse states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. State-level data on drug coverage, medication use, out-of-pocket costs, and cost-related medication skipping among community-dwelling seniors are highlighted to examine how coverage and experiences differ by state and how…

  • How Well Does the Employment-Based Health Insurance System Work for Low-Income Families?

    Other Post

    Part 2 Even when insurance is offered to low-wage workers, its costs to these workers may be substantial, and, for some, a barrier to coverage. In 1996, workers had to contribute an average of $1,615 per year for family coverage, or about 30% of the total premium.5 Thus, a worker who earned $10 an hour in 1996, with annual wages of about $20,000, would have had to spend 8% of earnings to buy family coverage.*…

  • Medicare Chartbook

    Report

    The Medicare Chartbook includes data and background information critical to understanding the Medicare program and the challenges it faces in keeping up with the rising costs of health care and in ensuring the program s future financial security.

  • Key Facts: Women and HIV/AIDS

    Report

    Women comprise a growing share of new cases of AIDS in the United States. In 1986, women only represented 7% of new cases of AIDS. By 1999 that share had risen to nearly one quarter. Not only do women represent an increasing share of persons with AIDS, today they represent 30 percent of new HIV infections. Women of color, particularly African Americans, have been hardest hit among women. This report provides an overview of the…

  • National Survey on Medicare: The Next Big Health Policy Debate? – News Release

    Other Post

    National Survey Suggests Need for Broad Public Debate About Medicare Reform:Americans Know Medicare Faces Problems, But Not Ready To Make Hard Choices Future Options Not Well UnderstoodFew Know About Medicare+Choice Embargoed For Release Until: Noon, Tuesday, October 20, 1998 For further information contact: Matt James or Tina Hoff (650) 854-9400 or Sara Knoll (202) 347-5270 Washington, DC - A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health highlights the challenges…