Five Basic Facts on the Uninsured

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

About 45 million people in the U.S. lack health insurance and enabling more people to gain coverage has become a focus of policy efforts at the state and national levels. This brief provides basic facts that explain why so many people lack coverage and how being uninsured affects their health and financial security. The five facts are:

Most of the 45 million uninsured are in working families and do not have access to employer-sponsored insurance.

More than eight in ten of the uninsured are in low- or moderate-income families.

Most low- and moderate-income uninsured adults are not eligible for Medicaid.

The uninsured suffer from negative health consequences due to their lack of access to necessary medical care.

Medical bills are a burden for the uninsured and frequently leave them with debt.