How Many People With No Health Insurance?

Are you one of the millions of Americans who doesn’t have health insurance? Or maybe you’re just curious about how many people are in the same boat as you. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll explore just how many people are without health insurance and what it means for their access to healthcare. Get ready to be surprised by some eye-opening statistics!

The Uninsured in the United States

In the United States, the number of people without health insurance has been increasing in recent years. In 2018, there were 27.5 million people in the United States who were uninsured, which is about 8.5% of the population. The number of uninsured people has been rising since 2014, when it was 26.3 million, or 7.9% of the population. There are a number of reasons for the increase in the number of uninsured people in the United States.

One reason is that the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in 2010, has not been fully implemented yet. The ACA requires that all Americans have health insurance, but there are still many people who do not have coverage because they cannot afford it or because they do not qualify for subsidies to help pay for it. Another reason for the increase in the number of uninsured people is that some employers are no longer offering health insurance to their employees.

Finally, some states have not expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all low-income residents, as required by the ACA. As a result, there are still many people in the United States who do not have access to affordable health care.

The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had a significant impact on the number of people with health insurance. The ACA expanded Medicaid eligibility to include adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($16,753 for an individual and $22,715 for a family of two in 2018). As of March 2018, 12.4 million people had enrolled in Medicaid through the ACA’s expansion.

In addition, the ACA created new health insurance exchanges where people can purchase private health insurance plans. These plans are required to offer a minimum level of coverage and provide subsidies to help make them more affordable for low- and moderate-income people. As of February 2018, 10.6 million people were enrolled in private health plans through the exchanges.

Together, these two provisions of the ACA have helped reduce the number of people without health insurance from 48.6 million in 2010 to 28.9 million in 2017.

The Consequences of Being Uninsured

There are a number of consequences to being uninsured. The most obvious is that you will have to pay for all of your medical care out of pocket. This can be very expensive, and it can put a strain on your finances. If you are unable to pay for your care, you may be forced to go without it, which can lead to further health complications.

Additionally, being uninsured can make it difficult to find a job, as many employers require health insurance as a benefit. Finally, being uninsured can also affect your mental health, as the stress of not having coverage can take a toll on your wellbeing.

How to Get Health Insurance

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance, there are a few options available to you. The most obvious is to find a job that provides health benefits. However, this isn’t always possible or practical. If you’re self-employed, unemployed, or work for a small business that doesn’t offer health insurance, you’ll need to look into other options.

One option is to purchase a health insurance policy on your own. This can be done through the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov, or directly through a health insurance company. Be sure to shop around and compare plans before choosing one, as there can be significant differences in coverage and cost.

Another option is to qualify for government-sponsored health insurance programs like Medicaid or Medicare. To see if you qualify for Medicaid, visit your state’s Medicaid website. For information on Medicare, visit the Medicare website or contact your local Social Security office.

Finally, some states offer their own health insurance programs for residents who don’t have access to other coverage options. To find out if your state has such a program, visit your state’s healthcare website or contact your state’s department of insurance.

Conclusion

As the number of uninsured Americans continues to grow, it is essential that we take action to address this issue. We must ensure that all people have access to quality, affordable health care and that those who cannot afford insurance can receive necessary healthcare services through public programs like Medicaid. By doing so, we can reduce the number of people without health insurance and create a healthier society for everyone.