Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021

"The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that real median household income in 2021 was not statistically different than 2020. The official poverty rate of 11.6% was also not statistically different between 2020 and 2021. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate in 2021 was 7.8%, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from 2020. Meanwhile, the percentage of people with health insurance coverage for all or part of 2021 was 91.7% (compared to 91.4% in 2020.) An estimated 8.3% of people, or 27.2 million, did not have health insurance at any point during 2021, according to findings from the 2022 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC). That’s compared with an estimated 8.6% of people, or 28.3 million, who did not have health insurance at any point during 2020.

Real median household income was $70,784 in 2021, not statistically different from the 2020 estimate of $71,186. Income estimates are expressed in real or 2021 dollars to reflect changes in the cost of living. Between 2020 and 2021, inflation rose 4.7%; this is the largest annual increase in the cost-of-living adjustment since 1990. You can find more in-depth analysis in our recent Random Samplings blog.

The real median earnings of all workers (including part-time and full-time workers) increased 4.6% between 2020 and 2021, while median earnings of those who worked full-time, year-round decreased 4.1%. Between 2020 and 2021, the change in the number of total workers was not statistically significant; however, there was an increase of about 11.1 million full-time, year-round workers (from approximately 106.3 million to 117.4 million), suggesting a shift from part-time or part-year in 2020 to full-time, year-round work in 2021.

The official poverty rate in 2021 was 11.6%, with 37.9 million people in poverty. Neither the rate nor the number in poverty was significantly different from 2020. The SPM rate in 2021 was 7.8%, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from 2020. This is the lowest SPM poverty rate since estimates were first published in 2009 and the third consecutive annual decline..."
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance 

Reasons for Being Uninsured Among Adults Aged 18–64 in the United States, 2019

"Key findings

Data from the National Health Interview Survey

• In 2019, 14.5% of adults aged 18–64 were uninsured in the United States.
• Among uninsured adults aged 18–64, the most common reason for being currently uninsured was that coverage was not affordable.
• The percentage of uninsured adults who were uninsured because coverage was not affordable increased with age, from 66.8% among those aged 18–29 to 80.9% among those aged 50–64.
• Hispanic adults (30.4%) were more likely than non-Hispanic white adults (22.3%) to indicate that they were uninsured due to ineligibility.
• Men (26.8%) were more likely than women (14.6%) to indicate that they were uninsured because coverage was not needed or wanted.

Previously published data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) reported that the percentage of uninsured adults aged 18–64 significantly decreased from 20.4% in 2013 to 13.3% in 2018 (1). Lack of health insurance has been associated with not receiving preventive services or screenings and may, in turn, lead to delays in disease diagnosis and poorer health outcomes (2). The 2019 NHIS included six questions for uninsured adults to better understand their reasons for currently being uninsured. This report describes the characteristics of uninsured adults aged 18–64 in 2019 and the percentage who identified with each of the six reasons for being uninsured. For the three most prevalent reasons, the percentage who identified with each reason is presented by selected demographic characteristics, and health status..."
Uninsured adults 

Health Insurance in Rural America

"Rates of Uninsured Falls in Rural Counties, Remains Higher Than Urban Counties

More people had health insurance from 2013 to 2017 across the nation, including in every state and almost every county.

The interactive graphic below, that uses Small Area Health Insurance Estimates released today, highlights uninsured rates for 2017 at the county level and the change since 2013.

It compares the percentage of people without health insurance in rural and nonrural areas and in states that expanded Medicaid and those that didn’t, as of 2017.  

Counties are Classified

• “Mostly Urban” when less than one-half of their population lives in rural areas.
• “Mostly Rural” when more than half but not all of their population lives in rural areas.
• “Completely Rural” when everyone in the county lives in a rural area.

Highlights from the Interactive Graphic

• In 2017, county uninsured rates for people under age 65 ranged from 2.3 percent in Norfolk County, Mass., to 33.7 percent in Gaines County, Texas. The median county rate was 10.6 percent.
• Massachusetts’ 14 counties had one of the narrowest gaps among its counties. Texas had one of the widest ranges.
• Residents of rural counties still lack insurance at higher rates than those living in urban areas. About 12.3 percent of people in completely rural counties lacked health insurance compared with 11.3 percent for mostly rural counties and 10.1 percent for mostly urban counties.
• In nearly every county, whether completely rural, mostly rural or urban, the percentage of people without health insurance has declined since 2013..."

Health insurance

Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2016

"This report presents statistics on health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC) and the American Community Survey (ACS)..."
Health insurance

Health Insurance Marketplace and Women

"The Marketplace is now open for 2017! Get health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace until January 31, 2017 and learn about free preventive services available to women. If you already have coverage through the Marketplace, learn about Coverage to Care and other resources to help you navigate the health care system.

In the Marketplace, you can:

• Compare different plans based on price, benefits, quality, and other features important to you
• Choose a combination of price and benefits that fit your budget and meet your needs.."

Health Insurance and women

Uninsured Rate for Working-Age Adults Decreases in Majority of Counties

"The estimated uninsured rate for working-age adults (age 18-64) decreased in 72.1 percent of the nation’s counties (or 2,262 counties) from 2013 to 2014, according to new statisticsreleased today from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For the total population under age 65, the estimated uninsured rate decreased in 74.1 percent of counties (or 2,325 counties) between 2013 and 2014. There were no statistically significant changes in 25.9 percent of counties, and only one county experienced an increase in its uninsured rate.

“One way communities use these health insurance statistics is to guide access to screening services for breast and cervical cancer among low-income women.” said Lauren Bowers, a statistician in the Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division. “For example, our estimates indicate that working-age females had a lower uninsured rate than males in about 40 percent of counties.”

In 2014, a provision of the Affordable Care Act went into effect giving the option for states to expand their Medicaid eligibility to most working-age adults living at or below 138 percent of poverty. In states that expanded Medicaid eligibility, 96 percent of counties had a decrease in uninsured rates for working-age adults. In comparison, among the states that did not expand their Medicaid eligibility, 37 percent of counties had a decrease in uninsured rates for their working-age adult.."

Uninsured

Federal Subsidies for Health Insurance Coverage for People Under Age 65: 2016 to 2026

"The federal government subsidizes health insurance for most Americans through a variety of federal programs and tax preferences. In 2016, those subsidies for people under age 65 will total more than $600 billion, the Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate. (The government also bears significant costs for health insurance for people 65 or older, mostly through Medicare and Medicaid.)..."
Health insurance

Calling on Communities - We Challenge You to Get Covere

"Today, the White House is launching the "Healthy Communities Challenge", calling on community leaders to reach out to the uninsured in their states to help them get covered under the Affordable Care Act.

As the Affordable Care Act has taken effect, 17.6 million Americans have gained coverage, and, since 2010, we’ve reduced the uninsured rate in this country by 45 percent.  The nation’s uninsured rate is now at its lowest level ever. 

But in communities across the country, 10.5 million eligible people remain uninsured.

That's why the White House is reaching out to local officials in 20 key communities with high percentages of uninsured Americans in states around the country. Community collaboration with local, state and federal officials can have a meaningful impact in helping these people get the health coverage they need..."
Health insurance

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Products

"The Census Bureau is releasing a selection of data products on income, poverty and health insurance coverage. These products include:

• 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement Public Use Micro Data File containing tax and noncash benefit variables (http://www.census.gov/hhes/povmeas/data/supplemental/public-use.html)
• 2015 CPS ASEC updated in Table Creator online tool (http://www.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html)
• 2015 CPS ASEC Supplemental Poverty Measure Research File (http://www.census.gov/hhes/povmeas/data/public-use.html)
• 2014 National Academy of Science (NAS) based poverty tables updated using the 2015 CPS ASEC - experimental poverty measures based on recommendations of the 1995 NAS report “Measuring Poverty” (http://www.census.gov/hhes/povmeas/data/nas/tables/2014/index.html)

Income, poverty, health insurance

Another Difference Between the Sexes – Health Insurance Coverage

"Today, the Census Bureau, with support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released its fifth annual report, The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2014. This measure extends information provided by the official poverty measure by explicitly including benefits from many of the government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals.

According to the report, the supplemental poverty measure rate was 15.3 percent last year, which was higher than the official measure of 14.9 percent for 2014. Both the supplemental measure rate and the official poverty rate were not significantly different from the corresponding rates in 2013..."
Health Insurance

Census Bureau to Announce Findings for 2014 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage, and Supplemental Poverty Measure

"What:The U.S. Census Bureau will hold an online news conference to announce the findings from three reports:Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014, Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014, and The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2014. The income and poverty report, as well as the report on the supplemental poverty measure, are both based on the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey. The health insurance report is based on both the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey and contains some state-level findings.

The presenter and other subject-matter experts will take questions from reporters following completion of her remarks.

When:Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015
10 a.m. EDT

News conference page:The reports, data tables and news release will be posted online shortly after the news conference begins and can be accessed at <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2015/income_poverty.html>.

Access: The Census Bureau will broadcast the event live on
<https://www.census.gov/newsroom/census-live.html>..".
Income poverty and health Insurance

An Introduction to Health Insurance: What Should a Consumer Know?

"Congress has seen a renewed interest in the market for private health insurance since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended). This report provides an overview of private-sector (as opposed to government-provided) health insurance.It serves as an introduction to health insurance from the point of view of many consumers under the age of 65. No background in health insurance is assumed, and all terms are defined in the body of the report.

 A consumer may find the purchase of health care inherently different from some other purchases. Health care can be expensive, and many relevant details concerning future health care may not be known when the consumer is choosing an insurance plan, including when over the course of a year (if at all) health care will be purchased, which services will be needed, and the costs of those services. These characteristics of purchasing health care decrease the consumer’s ability to plan financially and increase the consumer’s exposure to financial risk. The purchase of health insurance reduces the risks and unpredictability inherent in paying for health services..."
Health insurance

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: An Overview

"The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program provides health insurance to federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. This report provides a general overview of FEHB. It describes the structure of FEHB, including eligibility for the program and coverage options available to enrollees, as well as premiums, benefits and cost sharing, and general financing of FEHB. The report also describes the role of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in administering the program.."

Federal employees and Health benefits

Health Insurance Open Enrollment begins November 15, 2014

"Open Enrollment for 2015 coverage starts November 15, 2014. Until then, you can get ready by learning about the Marketplace, seeing if you may qualify for savings, downloading an application checklist, and more.

Plans and estimated prices for 2015 coverage will be available in early November..."
Health insurance Enrollment

Updated Estimates of the Effects of the Insurance Coverage Provisions of the Affordable Care Act, April 2014

"The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have updated their estimates of the budgetary effects of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that relate to health insurance coverage. The new estimates, which are included in CBO’s latest baseline projections, reflect CBO’s most recent economic forecast, account for administrative actions taken and regulations issued through March 2014, and incorporate new data and various modeling updates..."
Affordable Care Act Estimates

Trends in Health Care Cost Growth and the Role of the Affordable Health Care Act

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed against a backdrop of decades of rapid growth in health care spending in the United States. While much of this historical increase reflects the development of new treatments that have greatly improved health and well-being (Cutler 2004), there is widespread agreement that the system suffered from serious inefficiencies that increased costs and reduced the quality of care that patients receive. A key goal of the ACA was to begin wringing these inefficiencies out of the health care system, simultaneously reducing the growth of health care spending and its burden on families, employers, and state and federal budgets–while increasing the quality of the care delivered.
This report analyzes recent trends in health care costs, the forces driving those trends, and their likely economic benefits..."
Health cost report

Infographic Profiles Young Adults Without Health Insurance

"In 2012, 27 percent of young adults (ages 19 to 34) lacked health insurance, although the rate varied widely from state to state, according to a new Census Bureau infographic, "The Young and Uninsured in 2012." The infographic looks at the characteristics of this group and their uninsured rate in states and the largest metropolitan areas..."
Uninsured youth

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012

"This report presents data on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States based on  information collected in the 2013  and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic
Supplements..."
Income Poverty and Health Insurance

How We Measure Health Insurance

" Next week, the Census Bureau is releasing two sources for health insurance statistics in the United States:  the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC) and the American Community Survey (ACS).  While both surveys have questions that attempt to measure the same phenomena, they go about it in different ways..."
Health insurance

2011 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE)

"The Census Bureau today released its 2011 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE). The estimates show the number of people with and without health insurance for all states and each of the nation's roughly 3,140 counties. The statistics are provided by broad age group, sex, race and Hispanic origin, and at income levels that reflect thresholds for state and federal assistance programs. The data can be used to assess annual changes in health insurance coverage from 2008 through 2011..."
health insurance coverage