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.

State Health Facts: Health Coverage & the Uninsured

Get data on health insurance status for the population overall and broken down by age, gender, and income. More than 800 up-to-date health indicators at the state level can be mapped, ranked, and downloaded through State Health Facts.

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

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881 - 890 of 1,309 Results

  • Medical Debt and Access to Health Care

    Report

    This study examines the privately insured who have had problems paying medical bills and compares their access to care to those who have not had medical bill problems as well as those with no health coverage at all, using a national representative survey of adults. The study finds that care-seeking patterns among those with private coverage but having problems paying their medical bills resembled those of the uninsured. Executive Summary (.pdf) Report (.pdf)

  • Addressing the Health Care Impact of Hurricane Katrina

    Issue Brief

    This issue paper is an effort to begin an assessment of health care needs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and to review some of the policy options available to the federal government to ensure access to health care for those affected by Katrina. The brief begins with a summary of the implications for the health of the population and its access to needed care. It then outlines the implications for affected states – those…

  • Survey of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees

    Report

    To give voice to people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing floods, The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a unique survey of evacuees in shelters in the Houston area. The provides information on evacuees' lives before the hurricane and inside Houston area shelters, as well as their plans for the future. The survey also includes a number of health-related questions, including…

  • Additional Resources on Hurricane Katrina Relief

    Other Post

    U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html HHS Resources Targeting Minority Communitieshttp://www.os.dhhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050930a.html Congressional Hearings and Resources: Hearing: Hurricane Katrina: Community Rebuilding Needs and Effectiveness of Past Proposalshttp://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing092805.htm Hearing: Assessing Public Health and the Delivery of Care in the Wake of Katrinahttp://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/09222005hearing1643/hearing.htm Senate Committee Reports and Other Information About Hurricane Katrinahttp://help.senate.gov/katrina.htm Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/ Social Security Administration (SSA)http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)http://www.fema.gov/ Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm U.S. Department of…

  • Health Care Costs Survey – Summary and Chartpack

    Poll Finding

    The summary and chartpack highlight key findings from the joint USA Today/Kaiser/Harvard School of Public Health survey exploring Americans’ views on health care costs. Survey Summary and Chartpack (.pdf)

  • Health Care Costs Survey – Toplines

    Poll Finding

    This document includes the toplines from the joint USA Today/Kaiser/Harvard School of Public Health survey exploring Americans’ views on health care costs. Survey Toplines (.pdf)

  • Health Care Costs Survey

    Poll Finding

    This comprehensive survey from USA Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health examines how Americans are being affected by health care costs. The survey includes information on the barriers health care costs pose to obtaining medical care and the alternative measures people take to lower their medical and prescription drug bills. The is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,531 adults ages 18 years and older, conducted between April…

  • 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)

  • Women and Health Care: A National Profile

    Report

    A new national survey of women on their health finds that a substantial percentage of women cannot afford to go to the doctor or get prescriptions filled. Although a majority of women are in good health and satisfied with their health care, many have health problems and do not get adequate levels of preventive care. The report also examines women’s health status, health care costs, insurance, access to care, prevention, and their role in family…

  • Women and Health Care: A National Profile – Report

    Report

    Report - Women and Health Care: A National Profile Women and Health Care: A National Profile is a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,766 women ages 18 and older. A shorter companion survey of 507 men was also conducted. Full Report (.pdf) Report Highlights (.pdf) Introduction and Methods (.pdf) Chapter 1: The Demographics of Women (.pdf) Chapter 2: The Health of Women (.pdf) Chapter 3: Women and Health Insurance Coverage (.pdf) Chapter 4: Women's Access…