Uninsured

New and noteworthy

Quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman reads, "when it comes to the “affordability crisis” driving the national discussion of health care today, the chronically ill, and most of all the chronically ill uninsured, are the tip of the spear."

The Group that Struggles the Most in American Health Care

In a new column, Dr. Drew Altman, KFF’s Founding President and CEO, previews findings about the chronically ill uninsured from a large KFF survey of 25,000 Americans focusing on the cost and access challenges facing the chronically ill, which will be released tomorrow. He writes: “There are more than enough needs to go around in American health care, but if I had to pick the one group that struggles the most with costs and access, it would be people with chronic illnesses who are also uninsured.”

Other “Beyond the Data” columns >>

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.

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.

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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  • Useful Resources as the New U.S. Census Numbers on Health Coverage are Released

    Other Post

    With the U.S. Census Bureau releasing its annual update on health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured Americans shortly, Kaiser Family Foundation resources may be helpful. The Foundation and its largest program area, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, produce several informational resources that analyze America's health insurance coverage, as well as the policy issues and public opinion regarding the uninsured. The Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured Project is an ongoing…

  • Access to Care for the Uninsured: An Update

    Report

    As the Census Bureau releases the latest data on health insurance coverage, prior research has shown that health insurance coverage improves access to care and health outcomes. New data from the Kaiser 2003 Health Insurance Survey updates what is known about barriers to access to health care. Chart Pack (.pdf)

  • How Race/Ethnicity, Immigration Status, and Language Affect Health Insurance Coverage, Access to and Quality of Care Among the Low-Income Population

    Report

    This report examines the roles that race, language and citizenship status play in insurance coverage, access to health care and quality of health care, particularly for the low-income Latino population. The findings demonstrates that citizenship status and language proficiency have a significant impact on insurance coverage, access to care and the quality of care received among the low-income population. Report (.pdf)

  • Immigrants’ Health Care Coverage and Access (Update)

    Fact Sheet

    Immigrants' Health Care Coverage and Access This fact sheet profiles the health coverage of the nation's immigrant population and the policy challenges the population faces in accessing health care services. Fact Sheet (.pdf)

  • New Publications on Immigrant Health Care and Linguistic Access

    Fact Sheet

    In 2000, there were over 32 million foreign-born residents in the U.S. Immigrants often face barriers to health coverage and health services. The disparities confronting immigrants can be similar to those faced by low-income working families generally, but immigrants also face other barriers, including linguistic issues and eligibility changes that have limited their ability to qualify for Medicaid. These new or updated publications address issues related to how race, immigration status, and language affect insurance…

  • Ensuring Linguistic Access in Health Care Settings: An Overview of Current Legal Rights and Responsibilities

    Report

    In order to ensure access to care for limited English proficient residents, there are a number of federal and state laws and policies that compel publicly funded health care programs and activities to provide language access. This report focuses on the language access responsibilities of health care and coverage providers pursuant to federal civil rights laws. Report (.pdf)

  • Is Lack of Coverage a Short- or Long-Term Condition?

    Issue Brief

    This paper produces alternative estimates of the numbers of uninsured and explores the distribution of the duration of uninsured spells for people who lacked coverage at some time during a 12-month period. Policy Brief Link to fact sheet, Lack of Coverage: A Long-Term Problem for Most Uninsured

  • Preserving Recent Progress for Health Coverage of Children and Parents: New Tensions Emerge

    Report

    The latest survey of eligibility rules and enrollment and renewal procedures in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in their Medicaid and SCHIP programs for children and parents. It reflects changes states implemented between January 2002 and April 2003. The current survey also solicited information about states premiums and cost-sharing practices. Report Enrolling Children and Families in Health Coverage: The Promise of Doing More (50 State Survey as of January 2002) >>All 50-State…

  • The Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured: Project Highlights

    Other Post

    The Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured: Project Highlights This brief summarizes the Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured Project's first three analyses and reports by Jack Hadley and John Holahan of The Urban Institute. It covers the consequences of being uninsured, how much the nation already spends on care for the uninsured, and the cost of new medical care spending if the uninsured were covered. Project Highlights