Most people without health insurance have at least one worker in their family. Low-income families are more likely to be uninsured. Reflecting the more limited availability of public coverage in some states, adults are more likely to be uninsured than children. Three quarters of the uninsured are adults (18 to 64 years old), while a quarter of the uninsured are children.
Compared to other age groups, young adults are the most likely to be left without coverage. Affordability remains a key reason why 30 million adults remain uninsured. Our findings show that more than a third of uninsured adults who didn't try to get coverage in the markets mentioned affordability issues. A third of adults with a coverage gap who were previously insured through the individual market abandoned their plans because they couldn't afford them.
The survey also suggests a lack of knowledge among uninsured adults about their coverage options. While the national debate on health care focuses on more radical reforms, such as Medicare for All, federal and state policy makers have several options to help millions of people maintain or obtain coverage under current law. Uninsured adults are more likely than insured adults to have an undiagnosed chronic condition that could be controlled with appropriate treatment. Studies on expanding Medicaid eligibility have demonstrated increased testing for diabetes, high cholesterol, HIV and cancer.
