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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase the proportion of people with health insurance — AHS‑01 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Improving

  Improving

Most Recent Data:
91.1 percent (2023)

Target:
92.4 percent 

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
88.0 percent of persons under 65 years had medical insurance in 2019 

Health insurance coverage is an important determinant of access to health care — and access to health care is a key determinant of physical and behavioral health. Strategies to increase health insurance coverage rates are critical for making sure more people get important health care services, like preventive care and treatment for chronic health conditions.

In 2021, 89.7 percent of people under 65 years had medical insurance.

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Disparities in medical insurance coverage rates by country of birth (for people under 65 years) ‡

In 2021, people under 65 years who were born outside the U.S. had the lower group rate of medical insurance coverage (75.8 percent). People born in the U.S. (reference group) had the higher group rate (92.3 percent).

The rate of medical insurance coverage among people born in the U.S. was 21.8 percent higher than the rate among people born outside the U.S. (maximal rate ratio = 1.218). The difference between the higher and lower group rates was 16.5 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Find data for additional demographic groups.