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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 >>

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  • Putting Women’s Health Care Disparities On The Map: Examining Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the State Level

    Report

    This Kaiser Family Foundation report documents the persistence of disparities between white women and women of color across the country. It provides a rare and comprehensive state-level look at disparities among women of different races and ethnicities on a broad range of indicators of health and well-being, including rates of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, AIDS and cancer, and access to health insurance and health screenings.

  • The Effects of the Economic Recession on Communities of Color

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief examines some of the challenges associated with employment, daily life and access to health care among racial minorities, who tend to be disproportionately affected by many of the consequences of economic hard times. High unemployment rates, coupled with vast differences in savings and wealth, have left many individuals struggling to afford such basic necessities as housing and food, and have resulted in lapses in health coverage and difficulties paying for needed medical…

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

    Report

    Results of two surveys that track Californian's knowledge of the two initiatives on the California Ballot, Propositions 214 and 216 (also known as the Patient Protection Acts) and attitudes towards them as the debate unfolds. The surveys were conducted from August 14-21, 1996 and from September 23-30, 1996. Also included with this material is data on how much is being spent on television advertising for and against the propositions and who is being reached by…

  • Retiree Health Trends and Implications of Possible Medicare Reforms – Fact Sheet

    Fact Sheet

    Retiree Health Trends And Implications Of Possible Medicare Reforms September 1997 Approximately 12 million of Medicare's 39 million beneficiaries receive employer-sponsored retiree health benefits as a supplement to their Medicare coverage. In addition, millions of retired workers under age 65 rely on retiree health benefits as their primary source of health insurance coverage. While employer-sponsored health insurance is an important source of coverage for current retirees, health benefits for future retirees are uncertain. Retiree Health…

  • The U.S. Economy and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2006

    Other Post

    Health Affairs Article: The U.S. Economy and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2006 A Foundation study featured as a web-exclusive Health Affairs article examines health coverage trends from 2000-2006 showing that over this period the dominant factor contributing to a rise in the uninsured population has been the decline in employer-sponsored insurance, even as the economy rebounded from the last recession. Access web-exclusive Health Affairs article

  • Estimated Costs of Selected Consumer Protection Proposals: A Cost Analysis of the President’s Advisory Commission’s Consumer Bill of Rights

    Other Post

    Leading Health Care Consumer Protection Proposals Would Result In Modest Premium Increases for HMOS New Cost Analysis of Consumer Protections:Major Provisions of President's Consumer Bill of Rights and PARCA Estimated to Raise Premiums by Less Than 1% Embargoed for release until: 9:00 a.m., EDT, Wednesday, April 22, 1998 For further information contact:Chris Ferris (202) 347-5270or Matt James (650) 854-9400 Washington, DC - A new independent cost analysis finds that the premium increases likely to result…

  • What Is the Current Population Survey Telling Us About the Number of Uninsured?

    Issue Brief

    This brief describes the main concerns with the Census Bureau’s CPS health coverage estimates and how analysts have attempted to adjust for problems, and concludes with implications for how the CPS might be enhanced in order to improve the measurement of health insurance coverage. Issue Paper (.pdf)

  • Private Long-Term Care Insurance: A Viable Option for Low and Middle-Income Seniors?

    Issue Brief

    In the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the federal government made it harder for individuals to qualify for Medicaid nursing home benefits by increasing penalties on individuals who have transferred assets for less than fair market value during the past five years and by making individuals with home equity above $500,000 ineligible for nursing home benefits. The legislation also lifts the moratorium on the number of states that may operate Long-Term Care (LTC) Partnership Programs,…

  • Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Non-Citizen Adults

    Issue Brief

    This brief analyzes health insurance coverage and access for low-income non-citizen adults and discusses provider insights into the obstacles this population faces in obtaining coverage and receiving care. Overall, non-citizen adults account for just under one-fourth of all non-elderly uninsured adults. Low-income uninsured adults are at particularly high risk for being uninsured due to very limited access to both private and public coverage. The brief finds that, largely due to their high uninsured rate, low-income…