Health insurance coverage statistics by state
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Citizens in the United States typically receive health insurance from three main sources: private insurance (either through an employer or purchased on their own),Medicare andMedicaid. Some states also offer other public health insurance programs for their residents. The charts on this page break down the percentage of citizens covered by each source of health insurance, the changes in coverage from 2000 to 2012, and the change in the uninsured rate from 2013 to 2014.
Health insurance coverage by source
In general, employers have been the dominant source of health insurance for individuals since the late 1940s and 1950s. This can be at least partially attributed to the income tax exemption granted to employers for payments made toward health insurance for employees. The second major sources of health insurance are the state and federal governments, which jointly provide Medicaid for low-income individuals while the federal government sponsors Medicare for the elderly and disabled.[1]
The table below gives the percentage of each state's population that were insured through various sources in 2013, including the percentage of residents that were uninsured.Massachusetts had the smallest percentage of residents that were uninsured, whileNevada andTexas both had the largest percentage of uninsured residents.The nationwide uninsured rate during 2013 was 13 percent. Click[show] on the red bar below to view the data.[2]
| Health insurance coverage by source, 2013 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Employer | Other private | Medicaid | Medicare | Other public | Uninsured |
| Alabama | 43% | 5% | 17% | 18% | N/A | 16% |
| Alaska | 48% | 6% | 14% | 9% | 7% | 16% |
| Arizona | 41% | 5% | 19% | 14% | N/A | 19% |
| Arkansas | 39% | 7% | 18% | 19% | N/A | 15% |
| California | 45% | 7% | 19% | 12% | 2% | 15% |
| Colorado | 52% | 9% | 12% | 12% | 3% | 13% |
| Connecticut | 56% | 5% | 14% | 15% | N/A | 9% |
| Delaware | 50% | 4% | 21% | 17% | 1% | 7% |
| District of Columbia | 46% | 9% | 24% | 12% | N/A | 8% |
| Florida | 41% | 5% | 14% | 17% | 3% | 19% |
| Georgia | 47% | 6% | 13% | 14% | 4% | 16% |
| Hawaii | 53% | 4% | 16% | 15% | 6% | 5% |
| Idaho | 50% | 9% | 12% | 13% | 1% | 14% |
| Illinois | 50% | 8% | 17% | 12% | 1% | 11% |
| Indiana | 52% | 6% | 14% | 14% | 1% | 12% |
| Iowa | 54% | 7% | 14% | 14% | 1% | 9% |
| Kansas | 51% | 8% | 12% | 15% | N/A | 10% |
| Kentucky | 47% | 4% | 17% | 16% | 3% | 13% |
| Louisiana | 43% | 7% | 20% | 15% | N/A | 12% |
| Maine | 46% | 5% | 20% | 17% | 2% | 10% |
| Maryland | 53% | 7% | 14% | 14% | 2% | 10% |
| Massachusetts | 57% | 7% | 17% | 14% | N/A | 4% |
| Michigan | 53% | 5% | 16% | 15% | 1% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 57% | 9% | 13% | 13% | N/A | 7% |
| Mississippi | 43% | 5% | 19% | 17% | 3% | 14% |
| Missouri | 50% | 7% | 13% | 19% | 1% | 11% |
| Montana | 44% | N/A | 12% | 18% | 4% | 15% |
| Nebraska | 54% | 10% | 11% | 14% | N/A | 10% |
| Nevada | 47% | 6% | 10% | 13% | 3% | 20% |
| New Hampshire | 56% | 6% | 10% | 15% | 1% | 11% |
| New Jersey | 57% | 4% | 13% | 13% | N/A | 12% |
| New Mexico | 38% | 5% | 20% | 18% | N/A | 16% |
| New York | 48% | 6% | 21% | 15% | 1% | 9% |
| North Carolina | 42% | 6% | 16% | 17% | 3% | 16% |
| North Dakota | 54% | 11% | 10% | 13% | N/A | 12% |
| Ohio | 47% | 6% | 15% | 17% | 2% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 45% | 6% | 17% | 15% | N/A | 14% |
| Oregon | 48% | 6% | 15% | 16% | 1% | 13% |
| Pennsylvania | 54% | 6% | 13% | 17% | N/A | 10% |
| Rhode Island | 50% | 9% | 15% | 16% | 1% | 9% |
| South Carolina | 46% | 4% | 14% | 19% | 2% | 15% |
| South Dakota | 52% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 2% | 9% |
| Tennessee | 45% | 5% | 17% | 17% | N/A | 13% |
| Texas | 46% | 5% | 15% | 12% | 2% | 20% |
| Utah | 58% | 8% | 10% | 11% | N/A | 11% |
| Vermont | 48% | 6% | 18% | 19% | 2% | 8% |
| Virginia | 55% | 6% | 9% | 13% | 6% | 11% |
| Washington | 49% | 7% | 13% | 15% | 4% | 11% |
| West Virginia | 44% | 4% | 19% | 20% | N/A | 13% |
| Wisconsin | 55% | 5% | 13% | 17% | N/A | 9% |
| Wyoming | 49% | 5% | 11% | 12% | 5% | 17% |
| United States | 48% | 6% | 16% | 15% | 2% | 13% |
| Source:The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts" | ||||||
Change in health insurance coverage
The 1980s saw a peak in the percentage of people who were receiving health coverage through their employers, with a continuous decline in the rate thereafter. A study by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that despite the tax exemption, as the decade between 2002 and 2012 went on, fewer employers chose to offer health coverage to their employees, and when it was offered, fewer employees enrolled.[1][3]
The table below displays the change in insurance coverage by source between 2000 and 2012 for each state, including the change in the percentage of residents that were uninsured. The change is displayed in percentage points, which is the difference between one percentage and another; for example, the difference between 11 percent and 13 percent is 2 percentage points. Between 2000 and 2012, theDistrict of Columbia saw the largest decline in the percentage of uninsured residents, 4.5 percentage points.Nevada saw the largest increase in this percentage, 7.4 percentage points. Click[show] on the red bar below to view the data.
| Change in health insurance coverage by source, 2000-2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Change (in percentage points) | |||
| Medicaid enrollment | Employer-sponsored insurance | Medicare enrollment | Uninsured rate | |
| Alabama | 6.3 | -9.7 | 5.4 | 2.5 |
| Alaska | 0.5 | -7 | 2.2 | 1 |
| Arizona | 10.6 | -11.5 | 3.1 | 1.8 |
| Arkansas | 5.8 | -12.7 | 1.2 | 4.2 |
| California | 6.9 | -8.3 | 2.2 | 0.3 |
| Colorado | 3.5 | -10 | 2.7 | 0.7 |
| Connecticut | 7.7 | -8 | -0.7 | -0.9 |
| Delaware | 9.2 | -15.3 | 4.4 | 2.2 |
| District of Columbia | 9.1 | -2.3 | -0.8 | -4.5 |
| Florida | 5.7 | -12.4 | 1.3 | 5.2 |
| Georgia | 4.2 | -14.1 | 2.1 | 5 |
| Hawaii | 2.8 | -8.5 | 3.8 | -0.3 |
| Idaho | 2.9 | -8.9 | 4.7 | 0.6 |
| Illinois | 8 | -9.5 | 2.7 | 1.6 |
| Indiana | 6.2 | -13.8 | 2.6 | 3 |
| Iowa | 7.6 | -11.6 | 0.5 | 2 |
| Kansas | 4 | -11.3 | 1 | 2.9 |
| Kentucky | 3.3 | -10.8 | 2.9 | 3 |
| Louisiana | 8 | -5.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Maine | 12 | -5.9 | 1.2 | -0.8 |
| Maryland | 3.3 | -10.5 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| Massachusetts | 8.4 | -4.8 | 2.4 | -3 |
| Michigan | 9.2 | -11.5 | 4.8 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 5.5 | -9.8 | 4.9 | 0.3 |
| Mississippi | 5.1 | -12.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 |
| Missouri | 0.1 | -12.2 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Montana | 2.3 | -6 | 4.8 | 2.1 |
| Nebraska | 0.6 | -6.8 | 3.8 | 5.4 |
| Nevada | 4.7 | -14 | 1.9 | 7.4 |
| New Hampshire | 3.8 | -7.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 |
| New Jersey | 1.8 | -11.1 | 0.7 | 3.6 |
| New Mexico | 6 | -6.6 | 3.6 | -1 |
| New York | 10.8 | -6.3 | 1.9 | -3.2 |
| North Carolina | 3.8 | -13.8 | 3.4 | 5.1 |
| North Dakota | 2.6 | 1.3 | -1.9 | 1.9 |
| Ohio | 7.5 | -13.6 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| Oklahoma | 5.9 | -4.2 | 0.5 | -0.2 |
| Oregon | 0.4 | -11.8 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Pennsylvania | 4.6 | -10.6 | 1.9 | 4.5 |
| Rhode Island | 3.2 | -10.1 | 0.1 | 5.4 |
| South Carolina | 0.6 | -10.3 | 1.8 | 3.5 |
| South Dakota | 3.3 | -5.1 | -0.8 | 3.7 |
| Tennessee | -3.2 | -10.9 | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| Texas | 6.3 | -8.1 | 0.8 | 2.9 |
| Utah | 3.5 | -11.1 | 1.8 | 3.6 |
| Vermont | 7.1 | -7.9 | 4.9 | -0.4 |
| Virginia | 3.2 | -8.1 | 1.7 | 2.8 |
| Washington | 4.5 | -5.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
| West Virginia | 2.9 | -8.2 | 1.5 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 10.5 | -14.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| Wyoming | 4.9 | -1.6 | 3.2 | 1 |
| United States | 5.8 | -10 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Source:The Pew Charitable Trusts, "State Health Care Spending on Medicaid" | ||||
Uninsured population
Following the passage of theAffordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the nation as a whole saw a decline in the number of individuals without health insurance, particularly following the first open enrollment period for thehealth insurance exchanges in 2013 and the first state Medicaid expansions in 2014. According to theCensus Bureau, between 2013 and 2014, the number of uninsured individuals declined by 18.8 percent, from 45 million to 36.7 million people. The uninsured rate was 16.3 percent in 2010, 14.5 percent in 2013 and 11.7 percent in 2014. By 2016, about 8.6 percent of the country lacked health insurance.[4][5][6]
The tables below provide information about the number of uninsured individuals and the percentage of residents who were uninsured in each state.
2016
In 2016, about 27.3 million individuals in the United States were uninsured. Click[show] on the red bar to view the data.
| Population without health insurance coverage, 2013 and 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 2013 uninsured | 2016 uninsured | Difference | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Alabama | 645,000 | 13.6% | 435,000 | 9.1% | -210,000 | -32.5% |
| Alaska | 132,000 | 18.5% | 101,000 | 14.0% | -31,000 | -23.5% |
| Arizona | 1,118,000 | 17.1% | 681,000 | 10.0% | -437,000 | -39.1% |
| Arkansas | 465,000 | 16.0% | 232,000 | 7.9% | -233,000 | -50.1% |
| California | 6,500,000 | 17.2% | 2,844,000 | 7.3% | -3,656,000 | -56.2% |
| Colorado | 729,000 | 14.1% | 410,000 | 7.5% | -319,000 | -43.8% |
| Connecticut | 333,000 | 9.4% | 172,000 | 4.9% | -160,000 | -48.3% |
| Delaware | 83,000 | 9.1% | 53,000 | 5.7% | -30,000 | -36.1% |
| Florida | 3,853,000 | 20.0% | 2,544,000 | 12.5% | -1,309,000 | -34.0% |
| Georgia | 1,846,000 | 18.8% | 1,310,000 | 12.9% | -537,000 | -29.0% |
| Hawaii | 91,000 | 6.7% | 49,000 | 3.5% | -42,000 | -46.2% |
| Idaho | 257,000 | 16.2% | 168,000 | 10.1% | -89,000 | -34.6% |
| Illinois | 1,618,000 | 12.7% | 817,000 | 6.5% | -802,000 | -49.5% |
| Indiana | 903,000 | 14.0% | 530,000 | 8.1% | -373,000 | -41.3% |
| Iowa | 248,000 | 8.1% | 132,000 | 4.3% | -116,000 | -46.8% |
| Kansas | 348,000 | 12.3% | 249,000 | 8.7% | -99,000 | -28.4% |
| Kentucky | 616,000 | 14.3% | 223,000 | 5.1% | -393,000 | -63.8% |
| Louisiana | 751,000 | 16.6% | 470,000 | 10.3% | -281,000 | -37.4% |
| Maine | 147,000 | 11.2% | 106,000 | 8.0% | -41,000 | -27.9% |
| Maryland | 593,000 | 10.2% | 363,000 | 6.1% | -230,000 | -38.8% |
| Massachusetts | 247,000 | 3.7% | 171,000 | 2.5% | -76,000 | -30.7% |
| Michigan | 1,072,000 | 11.0% | 527,000 | 5.4% | -545,000 | -50.8% |
| Minnesota | 440,000 | 8.2% | 225,000 | 4.1% | -215,000 | -48.9% |
| Mississippi | 500,000 | 17.1% | 346,000 | 11.8% | -154,000 | -30.8% |
| Missouri | 773,000 | 13.0% | 532,000 | 8.9% | -241,000 | -31.2% |
| Montana | 165,000 | 16.5% | 83,000 | 8.1% | -81,000 | -49.7% |
| Nebraska | 209,000 | 11.3% | 161,000 | 8.60% | -48,000 | -23.0% |
| Nevada | 570,000 | 20.7% | 330,000 | 11.4% | -240,000 | -42.1% |
| New Hampshire | 140,000 | 10.7% | 78,000 | 5.9% | -63,000 | -44.3% |
| New Jersey | 1,160,000 | 13.2% | 705,000 | 8.0% | -455,000 | -39.2% |
| New Mexico | 382,000 | 18.6% | 188,000 | 9.2% | -195,000 | -50.8% |
| New York | 2,070,000 | 10.7% | 1,183,000 | 6.1% | -887,000 | -42.9% |
| North Carolina | 1,509,000 | 15.6% | 1,038,000 | 10.4% | -471,000 | -31.2% |
| North Dakota | 73,000 | 10.4% | 52,000 | 7.0% | -21,000 | -28.8% |
| Ohio | 1,258,000 | 11.0% | 644,000 | 5.6% | -614,000 | -48.8% |
| Oklahoma | 666,000 | 17.7% | 530,000 | 13.8% | -136,000 | -20.4% |
| Oregon | 571,000 | 14.7% | 253,000 | 6.2% | -318,000 | -55.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,222,000 | 9.7% | 708,000 | 5.6% | -514,000 | -42.0% |
| Rhode Island | 120,000 | 11.6% | 45,000 | 4.3% | -75,000 | -62.5% |
| South Carolina | 739,000 | 15.8% | 486,000 | 10.0% | -253,000 | -34.2% |
| South Dakota | 93,000 | 11.3% | 74,000 | 8.7% | -19,000 | -20.4% |
| Tennessee | 887,000 | 13.9% | 592,000 | 9.0% | -294,000 | -33.3% |
| Texas | 5,748,000 | 22.1% | 4,545,000 | 16.6% | -1,203,000 | -20.9% |
| Utah | 402,000 | 14.0% | 265,000 | 8.8% | -137,000 | -34.1% |
| Vermont | 45,000 | 7.2% | 23,000 | 3.7% | -22,000 | -48.9% |
| Virginia | 991,000 | 12.3% | 715,000 | 8.7% | -276,000 | -27.9% |
| Washington | 960,000 | 14.0% | 428,000 | 6.0% | -532,000 | -55.4% |
| West Virginia | 255,000 | 14.0% | 96,000 | 5.3% | -159,000 | -62.4% |
| Wisconsin | 518,000 | 9.1% | 300,000 | 5.3% | -218,000 | -42.1% |
| Wyoming | 77,000 | 13.4% | 67,000 | 11.5% | -11,000 | -13.0% |
| Source:United States Census Bureau, "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2016" | ||||||
2014
In 2014, about 36.7 million individuals were uninsured nationwide. Click[show] on the red bar to view the data.
| Population without health insurance coverage, 2013 and 2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 2013 uninsured | 2014 uninsured | Difference | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Alabama | 645,000 | 13.6% | 579,000 | 12.1% | -66,000 | -10.2% |
| Alaska | 132,000 | 18.5% | 122,000 | 17.2% | -10,000 | -7.6% |
| Arizona | 1,118,000 | 17.1% | 903,000 | 13.6% | -215,000 | -19.2% |
| Arkansas | 465,000 | 16.0% | 343,000 | 11.8% | -122,000 | -26.2% |
| California | 6,500,000 | 17.2% | 4,767,000 | 12.4% | -1,733,000 | -26.7% |
| Colorado | 729,000 | 14.1% | 543,000 | 10.3% | -187,000 | -25.5% |
| Connecticut | 333,000 | 9.4% | 245,000 | 6.9% | -87,000 | -26.4% |
| Delaware | 83,000 | 9.1% | 72,000 | 7.8% | -12,000 | -13.3% |
| District of Columbia | 42,000 | 6.7% | 34,000 | 5.3% | -8,000 | -19.0% |
| Florida | 3,853,000 | 20.0% | 3,245,000 | 16.6% | -608,000 | -15.8% |
| Georgia | 1,846,000 | 18.8% | 1,568,000 | 15.8% | -278,000 | -15.1% |
| Hawaii | 91,000 | 6.7% | 72,000 | 5.3% | -19,000 | -20.9% |
| Idaho | 257,000 | 16.2% | 219,000 | 13.6% | -39,000 | -14.8% |
| Illinois | 1,618,000 | 12.7% | 1,238,000 | 9.7% | -380,000 | -23.5% |
| Indiana | 903,000 | 14.0% | 776,000 | 11.9% | -127,000 | -14.1% |
| Iowa | 248,000 | 8.1% | 189,000 | 6.2% | -59,000 | -23.8% |
| Kansas | 348,000 | 12.3% | 291,000 | 10.2% | -57,000 | -16.4% |
| Kentucky | 616,000 | 14.3% | 366,000 | 8.5% | -250,000 | -40.6% |
| Louisiana | 751,000 | 16.6% | 672,000 | 14.8% | -80,000 | -10.5% |
| Maine | 147,000 | 11.2% | 134,000 | 10.1% | -13,000 | -8.8% |
| Maryland | 593,000 | 10.2% | 463,000 | 7.9% | -130,000 | -21.9% |
| Massachusetts | 247,000 | 3.7% | 219,000 | 3.3% | -28,000 | -11.3% |
| Michigan | 1,072,000 | 11.0% | 837,000 | 8.5% | -235,000 | -21.9% |
| Minnesota | 440,000 | 8.2% | 317,000 | 5.9% | -123,000 | -28.0% |
| Mississippi | 500,000 | 17.1% | 424,000 | 14.5% | -76,000 | -15.2% |
| Missouri | 773,000 | 13.0% | 694,000 | 11.7% | -79,000 | -10.2% |
| Montana | 165,000 | 16.5% | 143,000 | 14.2% | -21,000 | -13.3% |
| Nebraska | 209,000 | 11.3% | 179,000 | 9.7% | -29,000 | -14.4% |
| Nevada | 570,000 | 20.7% | 427,000 | 15.2% | -143,000 | -25.1% |
| New Hampshire | 140,000 | 10.7% | 120,000 | 9.2% | -20,000 | -14.3% |
| New Jersey | 1,160,000 | 13.2% | 965,000 | 10.9% | -195,000 | -16.8% |
| New Mexico | 382,000 | 18.6% | 298,000 | 14.5% | -85,000 | -22.0% |
| New York | 2,070,000 | 10.7% | 1,697,000 | 8.7% | -373,000 | -18.0% |
| North Carolina | 1,509,000 | 15.6% | 1,276,000 | 13.1% | -233,000 | -15.4% |
| North Dakota | 73,000 | 10.4% | 57,000 | 7.9% | -16,000 | -21.9% |
| Ohio | 1,258,000 | 11.0% | 955,000 | 8.4% | -302,000 | -24.1% |
| Oklahoma | 666,000 | 17.7% | 584,000 | 15.4% | -82,000 | -12.3% |
| Oregon | 571,000 | 14.7% | 383,000 | 9.7% | -188,000 | -32.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,222,000 | 9.7% | 1,065,000 | 8.5% | -158,000 | -12.8% |
| Rhode Island | 120,000 | 11.6% | 77,000 | 7.4% | -43,000 | -35.8% |
| South Carolina | 739,000 | 15.8% | 642,000 | 13.6% | -97,000 | -13.1% |
| South Dakota | 93,000 | 11.3% | 82,000 | 9.8% | -11,000 | -11.8% |
| Tennessee | 887,000 | 13.9% | 776,000 | 12.0% | -110,000 | -12.5% |
| Texas | 5,748,000 | 22.1% | 5,047,000 | 19.1% | -701,000 | -12.2% |
| Utah | 402,000 | 14.0% | 366,000 | 12.5% | -37,000 | -9.0% |
| Vermont | 45,000 | 7.2% | 31,000 | 5.0% | -14,000 | -31.1% |
| Virginia | 991,000 | 12.3% | 884,000 | 10.9% | -107,000 | -10.8% |
| Washington | 960,000 | 14.0% | 643,000 | 9.2% | -317,000 | -33.0% |
| West Virginia | 255,000 | 14.0% | 156,000 | 8.6% | -99,000 | -38.8% |
| Wisconsin | 518,000 | 9.1% | 418,000 | 7.3% | -100,000 | -19.3% |
| Wyoming | 77,000 | 13.4% | 69,000 | 12.0% | -8,000 | -10.4% |
| United States | 45,181,000 | 14.5% | 36,670,000 | 11.7% | -8,510,000 | -18.8% |
| Source:United States Census Bureau, "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014" | ||||||
Healthcare policy in the 50 states
Click on a state below to read more about healthcare policy in that state.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1Health Affairs, "Employment-Based Health Insurance: Past, Present, And Future," November 2006
- ↑The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "State-Level Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance," January 29, 2015
- ↑United States Census Bureau, "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014," September 16, 2015
- ↑United States Census Bureau, "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2016," accessed September 22, 2017
- ↑United States Census Bureau, "Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by State--All Persons: 1999 to 2012," accessed November 4, 2015
