Uninsured
the uninsured rate
Key Facts About the Uninsured Population
The number of people ages 0-64 who were uninsured held steady at 25.3 million in 2023, although the number of uninsured children rose from 3.8 million to 4.0 million.
Most uninsured people are in low-income families and have at least one worker in the family. Adults ages 19-64 are more likely to be uninsured than children. Despite gains across groups over time, racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage persist.
People without insurance coverage are less likely to access care and more likely to delay or forgo care because of costs. Uninsured people often face unaffordable medical bills when they do seek care.
Most uninsured people are in low-income families and have at least one worker in the family. Adults ages 19-64 are more likely to be uninsured than children. Despite gains across groups over time, racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage persist.
People without insurance coverage are less likely to access care and more likely to delay or forgo care because of costs. Uninsured people often face unaffordable medical bills when they do seek care.
New and Noteworthy
How Many Uninsured People Are in the Coverage Gap?
This analysis estimates that 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 coverage ACA’s Marketplaces affordable to them.
The Latest Medicaid Enrollment Trends
KFF’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker presents the most recent data on monthly Medicaid and CHIP enrollment reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, starting in February 2020. Archived data on unwinding renewal outcomes is also available.How the Unwinding Affected Enrollees
Over half who were disenrolled say they put off needed medical care while trying to renew Medicaid. Overall, 19% of adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of unwinding say they were disenrolled at some point in the past year. Of this group, a large majority (70%) were left at least temporarily uninsured.Forward or Backward on the Uninsured?
In his new column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman looks back at the remarkable progress made in expanding coverage for the uninsured and what it could mean politically for today’s remaining uninsured—a population that has had little clout historically and will command even less attention now.
The uninsured: How costs affect care and health, 2022
Latest Polling10%
Percent of adults who reported not having health insurance
29%
Percent of uninsured adults who reported delaying or not getting care due to health costs
75%
Percent of uninsured adults who worry about medical bills if they get sick or have an accident
38%
Percent of uninsured adults who reported not having a usual source of care (vs. 8% of insured adults)
Latest News
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Caseworkers Coax Homeless People out of Las Vegas’ Tunnels for Treatment
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Georgia’s Work Requirement Slows Processing of Applications for Medicaid, Food Stamps
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In Vermont, Where Almost Everyone Has Insurance, Many Can’t Find or Afford Care
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US Uninsured Rate Was Stable in 2023, Even as States’ Medicaid Purge Began