More than one out of every seven people in the United States lacks health insurance. Age, ethnicity, gender and income level all play a role in determining whether an individual is likely to have health coverage. Young adults, racial and ethnic minorities, males and individuals living in poverty are disproportionately represented among the uninsured.

A host of factors influences the number of uninsured in the United States. Rising health insurance costs have caused many employers to shift a greater portion of healthcare expenses to their employees. As this shift has occurred, more and more employees are finding the rising costs prohibitive and are turning down employer-sponsored health coverage. For those covered under public health insurance programs, such as Medicaid, many are finding that eligibility is being restricted and co-payments are being raised as states cut Medicaid spending to cope with a faltering economy. As Medicaid coverage disappears for many of the most medically vulnerable, the number of uninsured can be expected to rise.

Being uninsured has consequences for the individual and for healthcare providers. The uninsured have higher rates of unmet medical needs and are more likely to postpone receiving medical treatment. For the healthcare community, a large uninsured population presents numerous challenges. The uninsured are more likely than those with insurance to use the emergency room as a regular source of care either because they lack access to primary care or because a health problem has escalated. 

Last Updated: May 2005