Lack of Insurance

Definition

Some people may lack health insurance, making it difficult or impossible to afford the care they or their families need. Often individuals and families are covered through employer-sponsored insurance, which is not an option for those that are unemployed, work part-time, or work for employers who do not offer insurance sponsorship. While free or lower-cost health insurance through Medicaid for adults under 65 is an option, there are many barriers that prevent people from accessing these resources, such as language barriers or economic barriers (i.e., people do not qualify for lower enough cost options). 

Context/Impact on Health

Without insurance, healthcare comes with a steep and up-front cost. When health care is needed, low-income families and individuals may be forced to either forego care, meaning health outcomes worsen, or go into serious debt to access potentially life-saving services. In addition, those without insurance likely do not seek preventative care, which may increase the risk of developing more serious and more expensive conditions in the future. Moreover, individuals and families may have frequently changing insurance status, meaning that the prevalence of the uninsured may be underestimated.

Data Collection Methodology

Data are available through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES public dashboard and are collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is a state-based, telephone interview survey. BRFSS provides the prevalence of lack of insurance by modeling the percentage of adults 18-64 years who report having no health insurance coverage.

References