What is the story about?
According to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 8% of Americans lacked health insurance in 2025. This
figure reflects a steady rate of uninsured individuals across the population. The CDC's national survey, released on Thursday, indicates that while the uninsured rate remains lower than in previous years, upcoming changes in health policy may lead to an increase in the number of uninsured Americans next year.
Impact of Policy Changes
Legislative modifications to Medicaid, the safety-net health program for low-income Americans, may contribute to an estimated 10 million additional uninsured individuals over the next decade, according to projections from the Congressional Budget Office.Furthermore, the expiration of certain subsidies under the Affordable Care Act this year is expected to decrease enrollment in marketplace health programs by approximately 5 million individuals in 2026 compared to 2025, as reported by the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.
Data Sources and Methodology
The government employs various programs to track the insurance status of Americans, which can yield different statistics based on factors such as timing and survey questions. Many experts regard the U.S. Census Bureau as the authoritative source for such data, noted David Howard, a health policy and management professor at Emory University.The CDC survey results align closely with Census Bureau findings, offering comprehensive data for the entirety of 2025, marking the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Trump Administration's Health Initiatives
The Trump administration has implemented measures to expand access to low-premium catastrophic health insurance plans and reduce prescription drug prices for uninsured Americans. Officials have suggested that the anticipated decline in insurance enrollment may reflect a reduction in fraudulent or ineligible enrollees rather than a loss of coverage among eligible individuals.Trends Among the Uninsured
Despite the overall stability in the percentage of insured and uninsured individuals, the number of uninsured Americans increased by approximately 800,000 in 2025, including about 300,000 children, largely due to the growth of the U.S. population.Interestingly, the survey suggests a potential rise in the insured rate among Hispanic Americans, which may partly result from the Trump administration's immigration policies, leading to a decrease in the uninsured population within that demographic, according to Howard.
Historical Context of Uninsured Rates
Historically, the percentage of uninsured Americans under the age of 65 rose from 12% in 1980 to over 18% in 2010. Following the Affordable Care Act's implementation in 2010, which expanded Medicaid and made health insurance more accessible, the uninsured rate decreased significantly, nearing 10% by 2016.However, during Trump’s first term, this rate fluctuated between 11% and 12%, according to historical data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced the uninsured rate, reaching an all-time low of below 9% in 2023 due to government policies aimed at preserving coverage amid the crisis.
