Home Uninsured Topics

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
Other key facts about the uninsured >>

Latest News

More KFF Health News

Stay informed.

Get KFF's latest on the Uninsured

Stay informed.

Get KFF's latest on the Uninsured

View the Latest: Uninsured

Filter

List Grid

891 - 900 of 1,310 Results

  • Children and Oral Health: Assessing Needs, Coverage and Access

    Issue Brief

    This policy brief highlights the prevalence of dental problems among children and examines gaps in oral health coverage and access to dental care, as well as disparities by income and race/ethnicity. It also looks at out-of-pocket costs for dental care, explains the role of Medicaid and CHIP in dental care, coverage and access for children and describes the expansion of oral health coverage for children under the Affordable Care Act. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • The Impact of Cost Sharing on Appropriate Utilization and Health Status: A Review of the Literature on Seniors

    Other Post

    The Impact of Cost-Sharing on Appropriate Utilization and Health Status: A Review of the Literature on Seniors This article provides a review of research that has addressed the impact of patient cost-sharing on the use of health care services and subsequent health status for those ages 65 and older. Twenty-two studies are reviewed -- 16 focusing on cost-sharing for prescription drugs and 6 on cost-sharing for medical services. The article concludes that most studies examined…

  • Medicare+Choice Withdrawals: Understanding Key Factors

    Report

    To help understand why M+C plans have exited or limited their participation in the M+C program in recent years, this report presents an empirical analysis of the factors associated with plan withdrawals between 1999 and 2001. This analysis explores factors such as M+C payment levels, local market characteristics, and individual health plan characteristics to help predict plan withdrawals and draw inferences about the types of plans and markets that have been most adversely affected. Report

  • What Happened to the Insurance Coverage of Children and Adults in 2006?

    Issue Brief

    A new, detailed analysis of the latest US Census Bureau data on health insurance coverage looks behind the 2.2 million increase in the number of uninsured, examining changes by age and income. Reversing years of steady declines, the number of uninsured children has grown by one million over the last two years. And, as debate continues on reauthorization of SCHIP, the analysis shows that 48 percent of the increase in uninsured children from 2005 to…

  • Summary Of Early Observations Of The Transition Of Immigrant Families From A Medicaid Look-Alike Program To Basic Health In Washington State

    Issue Brief

    In 2002, the state of Washington eliminated state-funded Medicaid look-alike coverage for certain immigrant families. These families then became eligible for more limited coverage in the state's Basic Health program. This report details the process of this transition and the outcomes for coverage and access for these individuals. Research Brief (.pdf)

  • Managed Care For Low-Income Populations with Special Needs: The Tennessee Experience

    Report

    This paper provides a targeted review of Tennessee's experience providing health care to individuals with special needs under TennCare, its Medicaid managed care initiative. The first part reviews the experience of TennCare Partners, the behavioral health carve-out program created in 1996. The second part reviews how TennCare's structure affects the disabled and chronically ill.

  • Responding to the Threat of Bioterrorism:  Is California’s Public Health System Ready? — Issue Brief

    Issue Brief

    Responding to the Threat of Bioterrorism: Is California's Public Health System Ready? -- Issue Brief A 4-page issue brief which looks at the threat of bioterrorism and the public health system s role in responding to such an attack. The issue brief also addresses what can be done nationally and in California to prepare for a possible bioterrorist attack. The brief lists the panel for a California Health Policy Roundtable to be held in Sacramento,…

  • 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