The U.S. federal government is now considering proposals for health insurance subsidy rules that could lead to a big increase in the number of people who lack either public or private health coverage.
A big increase in the uninsured rate could hurt employer-sponsored health plans in many ways.
Doctors and hospitals may try to shift the cost of treating uninsured patients onto the backs of employers, and providers in communities with many uninsured patients may start to deliver lower-quality, less convenient care.
The latest 1-year estimates from the American Community Survey, a major U.S. Census Bureau survey program, show that the uninsured rate in the median state fell to 7.1% in 2024, from 8% in 2019.
For a look at the 12 states with the worst uninsured rates, see the gallery accompanying this article.
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