How Many Americans Are Uninsured?

Most people see paying for health insurance as an additional expense. But what some may not realize is that it impacts an individual’s personal finances positively in many ways. The National Center for Health Statistics' most recent survey found that 9.2% of Americans have no health coverage. Although that's slightly lower than the uninsured rate in 2020, that still translates to 30 million people.

MoneyGeek looks at America's uninsured from different angles — how numbers vary between states, age groups and race. We also determined why people remain without coverage despite its benefits.

In 2021, roughly 30 million people did not have health insurance in the U.S. This number includes all age groups, but nonelderly adults have the highest uninsured rate. At 13.5% without coverage, those surveyed were aged 18 to 64.

Uninsured Americans also lose opportunities for easier financial planning, especially those who want preventive care or need prescriptions. Most say cost is the primary reason they have no health insurance. It's unfortunate because being uninsured can be more expensive if a medical emergency occurs. Other causes include a complicated process, lack of familiarity with available plans and loss of employment.

MoneyGeek's guide breaks down the numbers of uninsured Americans in the following sections. We'll also explore other reasons why people remain uninsured.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser Family Foundation

At its highest, the number of uninsured Americans reached 46.5 million in 2010. It has fluctuated since 2008. Increases in uninsured Americans is primarily due to the effects of economic recessions.

Uninsured rates began to decrease starting in 2010, with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). There were significant coverage provisions to the ACA in 2014, allowing all Americans access to more affordable health plans through the Marketplace. The Medicaid program was also expanded in some states so that more low-income families could qualify.

Uninsured rates continued to decrease until 2016. By then, 20 million more people had health coverage than before the ACA was in place. Unfortunately, numbers began creeping up again, reaching 28.9 million in 2019. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities entertains the possibility that policies enacted by the then-administration played a role.

You can look at the number of uninsured people in the U.S. from different angles. One of them is location. The cost of health insurance, the top reason people give when asked why they're not insured, is also affected by where you live.

MoneyGeek's study detailed how many Americans are uninsured in each state, showing how numbers can vary between areas. Darker shades indicate higher uninsured rates, while lighter colors show that a more considerable portion of the population has coverage.

Massachusetts holds the title of best insurance rate in the country. Only 3% of their population has no health insurance. Other states with uninsured rates below 5% are the following:

• Rhode Island (4.1%)
• Hawaii (4.2%)
• Vermont (4.5%)
• Minnesota (4.9%)

Sixteen states have uninsured rates above 10%. Texas tops the list at an uninsured rate of 18.4%. Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi follow with 13% or more of their population having no health insurance.

Out of the ten states that do not have expanded Medicaid, eight have higher than 10% uninsured rates. The exceptions are Kansas and Wisconsin, with 9.2% and 5.7%, respectively.

Another consideration when analyzing how much of the country's population has no health insurance is age. MoneyGeek's guide shows six distinct groups. The first includes those who are 18 and younger. The following groups are working-age adults aged 19 to 25, 26 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 64. The last age group is those 65 and older.

The graph below shows individual figures for all segments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

At first glance, you'll immediately notice that uninsured rates for age groups at either end of the spectrum are significantly lower. Access to public health insurance programs might be one reason — these aren't available for working-age adults. For example, children younger than 19 from low-income families may be eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid. Seniors, on the other hand, typically get coverage from Medicare.

Uninsured rates are highest for those 19 to 25 and 26 to 34. Your eligibility for CHIP stops when you turn 19, and those who turn 26 also lose access to their parent's health coverage.

That leaves individuals with three options for health insurance. They can secure coverage through employer-sponsored plans, purchasing directly through the Marketplace or acquiring coverage through TRICARE.

You can also look at uninsured rates from the angle of race and ethnicity. MoneyGeek's guide includes four groups: Hispanics, Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic Asians. The data spans three years — from 2019 to 2021 — showing how numbers may have changed over time.

However, these numbers only focus on adults aged 18 to 64. It excludes people covered by public health programs like CHIP, Medicare and Medicaid as they are plans that are available contingent on age.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Out of the four groups, Hispanics are most likely to be uninsured at 30.1%. At 14.1%, Non-Hispanic Blacks have an uninsured rate at almost half of the uninsured rate of Hispanics. Non-Hispanic Whites and Non-Hispanic Asians have single-digit rates of 8.7% and 6.3%, respectively.

If you observe how uninsured rates shifted within three years, only Hispanics show an increase from 2020 to 2021. All other groups, including Non-Hispanic Whites and Non-Hispanic Blacks, display a decrease.

There may be many reasons why 9.2% of the U.S. population has no health insurance. Most work-aged adults (those between 18 to 64) say that cost is a primary factor because they find the monthly premiums too expensive.

However, affordability was not the only factor. Other reasons also surfaced, and MoneyGeek lists those in the table below.

As the table above shows, people's circumstances often affect their decisions about whether or not to enroll in a health insurance plan. Unfortunately, several elements play into this, such as ethnicity, income, age and gender.

For example, those who said health insurance was too expensive were more likely to be women in not-so-good health, between 50 and 64. Those who feel they don't need coverage are usually men aged 18 to 29 and in good or excellent health.

It's interesting to see how many Americans don't have insurance. You must look at the data from several angles to get a complete picture. MoneyGeek gathered the most commonly asked questions and their responses to provide further information.

Health insurance is a broad topic. Some who aren't well-versed may find it overwhelming. Fortunately, there's no lack of online resources that provide information about this subject. MoneyGeek's guide includes links to pages you can peruse to gain further insight.

• How to Get Health Insurance: There are several ways to get health insurance. MoneyGeek’s page walks you through each of them.
• Guide to Health Insurance for Students and Young Adults: Numbers show that around 14% of those between the ages of 19 to 25 don’t have health insurance. It’s never too early to have coverage — this page explains why.
• Buying Health Insurance for the First Time: A Guide for New College Grads: Most Americans are covered by their parent’s health plan until age 26. Find out what you can do to ensure you continue having coverage after your 26th birthday.
• Where to Find Low-Cost Health Insurance: Cost is the number one reason people remain uninsured. MoneyGeek shows you how to search for more affordable health plans.
• How to Get the Most Out of Your Employer Medical Plan: Be thankful if your employer includes medical coverage in its benefits package — not all companies do. Here are some techniques to ensure you maximize this perk.
• Best Health Insurance Options for the Unemployed: Almost half the insured have access to coverage because of an employer-sponsored plan. What do you do when you lose your job? MoneyGeek provides some answers.
• Health Insurance Premiums Continue to Increase. What Can You Do?: Read about the reasons behind the continuous climb of health insurance premiums and the different ways you can adjust to the rising prices and stay protected.
• The Best Health Insurance Companies in 2022: There’s no lack of health insurance companies, but which one is best for you? MoneyGeek evaluated multiple providers to help you determine the best option for you.
• Shop for Health Insurance Quotes: Comparing estimates from several health insurance companies is always a wise choice. MoneyGeek’s health insurance buying guide can help you ensure you get the best deal available.