In 2025, the percentage of Americans without health insurance remained at approximately 8%. This figure, released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a significant decrease compared to several years ago. However, changes brought by the Trump administration may soon alter these statistics.
Major alterations to Medicaid, a health program for low-income Americans, could increase the number of uninsured individuals by 10 million over a decade, based on Congressional Budget Office data. Additionally, the expiration of certain Affordable Care Act subsidies, which had previously reduced premium costs, is expected to lead to fewer enrollments in health marketplaces. The healthcare research group KFF anticipates a decline of 5 million participants in these plans from 2025 to 2026.
Various government programs track Americans’ insurance status, resulting in differing figures, but many researchers, including David Howard from Emory University, view the U.S. Census Bureau as the standard. Nevertheless, the CDC’s survey offers comprehensive data for 2025, the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The Trump administration has attempted to enhance access to low-premium catastrophic health plans and reduce drug prices for the uninsured. They also suggest that decreased insurance enrollment may indicate a reduction in fraudulent or ineligible participants.
Although the insurance rate remained steady, the number of uninsured rose by roughly 800,000, including 300,000 children, attributed to population growth. There might be an increased insured rate among Hispanic Americans, possibly due to immigration policies impacting those leaving the country.
For Americans 65 and older, Medicare provides coverage. Younger people, however, rely on a mix of public and private insurance. The uninsured rate for those under 65 grew from 12% in 1980 to over 18% in 2010, then fell after the Affordable Care Act, reaching nearly 10% by 2016. During Trump’s first term, it rose again to 11-12% but saw a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic due to policies that preserved coverage. The rate hit an all-time low in 2023, falling below 9%.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.