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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 8% of Americans did not have health insurance in 2025. Changes to Medicaid and the expiration of specific Affordable Care Act subsidies could lead to an increase in uninsured individuals, with 10 million more uninsured over a decade and around 5 million fewer people expected to enroll in marketplace health programs in 2026 compared to 2025. Despite the percentage of insured and uninsured staying roughly the same in 2025, the number of uninsured grew by about 800,000 people, including 300,000 children, likely due to population growth.
US Uninsured Rate Maintains at 8% in 2025, Says CDC
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent findings reveal the proportion of uninsured Americans remained stable at approximately 8% in 2025. This all-ages rate shows a significant decline compared to previous years. However, anticipated changes in the health landscape under the Trump administration may lead to an increase in uninsured individuals.
Significant amendments to Medicaid – the government’s health program for low-income citizens – could lead to an additional 10 million uninsured over ten years, as per the Congressional Budget Office predictions. Furthermore, the expiry of certain Affordable Care Act subsidies this year may also reduce participation in marketplace health programs, with around 5 million fewer enrollees anticipated in 2026 compared to 2025 according to KFF estimates.
While the government uses several programs to track insurance status among Americans, leading to varying figures, many researchers regard the U.S. Census Bureau as the authoritative source. Yet, these CDC findings align closely with the Census data, offering comprehensive data for 2025 – President Donald Trump’s initial year of his second term.
The Trump administration has made efforts to increase access to low-premium catastrophic health insurance plans and reduce medication costs for uninsured Americans. It suggests that projected insurance enrollment declines indicate a decrease in fraudulent and ineligible enrollees, not eligible Americans.
Despite the consistent percentage of insured and uninsured Americans in 2025, the number of uninsured increased by approximately 800,000 – including 300,000 children, likely due to the overall population growth. The findings suggest an increased insured rate among Hispanic Americans, potentially reflecting the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
While most Americans over 65 have health insurance through Medicare, younger Americans rely on a mix of public and private insurance programs. The percentage of uninsured Americans under 65 rose from the 1980s to the early 2000s, decreased after the Affordable Care Act in 2010, but started rising again during Trump’s first term. The rate dipped nearly to 10% by 2016, increased to almost 12% under Trump’s first term, and then fell again during the COVID-19 pandemic due to government policies.
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