The number of uninsured people living in the U.S. is rising, according to a new study released by KFF.
According to the latest data from 2024, over 1.3 million people lost health insurance or reported not having it, bringing the total to 26.7 million people without health insurance. The study pointed to a decline in Medicaid coverage as a driver for the increase in the rate.
Of these people left without health insurance, a significant number were among the younger generations below the age of 65. Black and Hispanic people were also amongst those most likely to be uninsured. Approximately 13% of Black people and 42% of Hispanic people were left without insurance in the U.S. They were amongst the groups most impacted under the age of 65.
The rate of Hispanic and Black people from ages 0 to 64 who are uninsured increased by 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively.
The study reports that the high cost of insurance is a driving force behind the increase in uninsured individuals.
“In 2024, 61.7% of uninsured adults ages 18-64 said they were uninsured because coverage is not affordable. Many uninsured people do not have access to coverage through a job, and some people, particularly poor adults in states that have not expanded Medicaid, remain ineligible for public coverage,” said researchers from KFF. “Among uninsured adults who were working, 71% were not offered or were not eligible for coverage from their employer in 2024.”
The newest study comes a month after reports emerged that nearly 5 million people stopped purchasing health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
Also known as “Obamacare,” the Affordable Care Act was created in 2010 to help make affordable health care accessible to people across the country.
Recent changes to the program, including the end of enhanced premium tax credits, have made coverage too costly for households to afford. The enrollment is expected to decrease to 17 million this year, down from 22 million in 2025.
Of those 5 million who dropped coverage under the Affordable Care Act, researchers predict they most likely remained uninsured as premiums doubled on average.
Per the KFF, the rate of uninsured people is expected to skyrocket. By 2034, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than 14 million people will be uninsured due to changes in eligibility for Medicaid and the Marketplace.
