Health Care

National uninsured rate rises in 2024

Census data captures the impact of a COVID-era Medicaid policy ending.
A briefcase of a census taker is seen as she knocks on the door of a residence, Aug. 11, 2020, in Winter Park, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file)

The share of Americans without health insurance grew slightly in 2024 for the first time in a decade, with declines in Medicaid enrollment — as states rolled back pandemic-era protections — contributing to the uninsured rate.

According to new U.S. Census Bureau data, the national uninsured rate rose to 8.2% in 2024, up from 7.9% in 2023. At the same time, the percentage of people covered by Medicaid declined from 21.3% to 20.5%.

Stay informed
Subscribe to keep reading.

Sign up today to get the latest state new at your fingertips and in your inbox.