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 

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

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

Uninsured Rate for Young Adults Drops Sharply

"Every year, the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey asks respondents whether they had any health insurance coverage during the previous calendar year. Collected since 1987, these statistics are the longest series that measure health insurance coverage for our nation.


Today, we released statistics pertaining to the 2011 calendar year. Segmented by a range of demographic characteristics, they show that 17.9 percent of people under age 65 were uninsured in 2011. That overall percentage, however, masks a great deal of variation among age groups..."