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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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  • Uninsured Quiz

    Feature

    The number of uninsured people in the United States has received increased attention since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. How much do you know about the uninsured population and the consequences of not having coverage? Take our quiz.

  • Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals

    Issue Brief

    On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a week later, signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which made some changes to the comprehensive health reform law. Summary of Final Health Care Reform Law (.pdf) Download a printable comparison of the new health reform law (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), the House-passed Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act…

  • Low-Income Adults Under Age 65 – Many are Poor, Sick, and Uninsured

    Issue Brief

    This policy brief from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured examines the characteristics and insurance coverage of low-income adults under age 65, a group numbering more than 50 million people. Members of this group are more likely to be in poor health than other Americans and are the least likely to have health insurance. Nearly a third are from families earning less than twice the poverty level. Fifteen percent live in poverty. Although…

  • National Survey of Public Knowledge of the Medicare Program and Public Support for Medicare Policy Proposals

    Other Post

    New Survey finds most Americans oppose slowing the growth of Medicare to balance the budget or cut taxes, but would support changes to avoid bankruptcy Embargoed for release until: 9:30 AM EST Thursday, June 29, 1995 Contacts: Matt James Tina Hoff (415) 854-9400 --Public Favors Incremental Rather than Sweeping Reforms-- --Significant Generational Differences on Medicare Reform-- Washington, D.C. -- A new survey has found that close to three out of four Americans (73%) support reducing…

  • Benefits and Costs of Consumer Protection Proposals in California: An Analysis of Selected Recommendations of the California Managed Care Task Force

    Report

    This report assesses the potential impact of selected recommendations of the Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force in the areas of access to care and specialists, information disclosure, and dispute resolution. The Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force was established in 1998 to inform state leaders about the health industry in California; the impact of managed care on quality, access, and cost of care; issues of special concern to consumers; and the appropriate role of…

  • Trends in Health Plans Serving Medicaid — 2000 Data Update

    Report

    An updated study follows trends in commercial health plan participation in Medicaid managed care and includes new analyses on the performance of Medicaid-dominated and commercial plans on measures of effective care and access to care, and on the extent to which plans restrict their Medicaid service areas.

  • Urban Indian Health

    Report

    More than half (57%) of the 2.5 million people who identify themselves solely as American Indian and Alaska Native in the 2000 Census live in metropolitan areas. This issue brief describes the large and growing urban Indian population, their health status, and the major federal health programs and federal-state programs that are available to improve Native Americans' access to needed health services. Report Introductory Letter  

  • Medicaid, SCHIP and Economic Downturn: Policy Challenges and Policy Responses

    Report

    Medicaid, SCHIP and Economic Downturn: Policy Challenges and Policy Responses A new analysis conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured examines the implications of a downturn for health coverage and state programs and projects the impact of one percentage point rise in the national unemployment rate on Medicaid and SCHIP and the number of uninsured individuals. The analysis also documents how federal fiscal relief during the last economic downturn of…

  • Medicaid and State Budgets: An October 2001 Update

    Report

    An update to "Medicaid Budgets Under Stress: Survey Findings for State Fiscal Year 2000, 2001, and 2002." This paper was commissioned to evaluate how several states' fiscal outlooks have changed since September 11. ISSUE BRIEF Download FULL REPORT Download