The number of Americans living without health insurance remained stable at 8%—before ACA subsidies expired
The number of Americans living without health insurance did not change significantly from 2024 to 2025, standing at roughly 8%, new survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows.
As part of its annual National Health Interview Survey that looks at family medical expenses, including the types of medical coverage families have, the CDC also estimated overall uninsured rates. According to the latest numbers from 2025, the estimated number of uninsured adults and children rose by about 800,000 since 2024—but statistically, that only represents a change of 0.1%.
The National Health Interview Survey is conducted much like the census, except respondents are randomly selected and asked to answer a series of questions related to their household. Participation is voluntary; however, the U.S. Census Bureau website says the more responses it gets, the more accurate its data will ultimately be.
Data is collected from roughly 27,000 adults who speak for their household in these face-to-face interviews, with the cohort chosen to be representative of the broader population. According to the CDC’s website, this is the “largest and oldest national health survey,” dating back to 1957.
The latest data, extrapolating from respondents, shows that an estimated 28 million Americans lived without health insurance in 2025. Of them, most were adults aged 18 to 64, of whom 11.6% said they had no medical coverage at all during the time they were interviewed.
For minors and children under the age of 18, that number came in at 5.6%, with the reduction likely linked to publicly funded safety nets. According to the CDC, 40% of all minors are enrolled in Medicaid or a similar program, while 57% were covered by a family member’s private health plan.
Looking back to adults under 65, only 21% were covered by public health plans. Most (69.4%) were covered by private, non-government insurance. This would be medical coverage provided by an employer, purchased through a government marketplace or carried over by a family member.
Uninsured rates stable since 2021—while ACA subsidies were in place
Looking at trends since 2021, the number of adults and children in the U.S. who have no medical coverage has been relatively flat. Notably, 2021 is when enhanced subsidies went into effect for plans purchased through government exchanges. Those subsidies, put in place to expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, expired in 2026.
There was some fluctuation during the five years, with uninsured rates mostly trending downward. In 2021, 13.5% of adults were uninsured, versus 11.6% in 2025. Similarly, the number of Americans relying on public programs has fallen slightly since 2023, as private insurance became more affordable.
The first set of data from the 2026 National Health Interview Survey will be released in January 2027, at which time we’ll have more information on how the end of the ACA subsidies has impacted overall coverage rates.
The full survey data is available here.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.