How many people died due to no health insurance?
Asked by: Hunter Luettgen | Last update: November 6, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (12 votes)
How many people in the US live without health insurance?
An estimated 26 million Americans, or 8 percent of the U.S. population, lacked health insurance in 2023.
Is the risk of death 25% higher for people with no health care coverage?
Stan Dorn, author of the Urban Institute study, said that although some studies stated that people aged 25 to 64 were 25% more likely to die if they lacked health insurance, the risk of death was probably higher because uninsured people are less healthy than insured people.
How to survive with no health insurance?
- Find a Medicaid Doctor. ...
- Look for Patient Assistance Programs. ...
- Ask for a Discount. ...
- Go to Urgent Care. ...
- Try a Retail Walk-In Clinic. ...
- Check Out Community Healthcare Centers. ...
- Get Free Screenings. ...
- Enroll in an Affordable Care Acts Marketplace Exchange Plan.
What happens if you go to the doctor without insurance?
Out-of-pocket medical bills can range from $150 to $400 for a visit to your primary care physician, and that is only for the doctor's fee. Other services like imaging and blood work will run that bill up even more. The average cost for a basic physical exam without insurance is $387.
The (Many) Crimes of United Healthcare, Explained
Who pays for uninsured patients?
Hospitals do get help with the unpaid bills – from taxpayers. The majority of hospitals are non-profits and are exempt from federal, state and local taxes if they provide a community benefit, such as charitable care. Hospitals also receive federal funding to offset some of the costs of treating the poor.
How much does it cost to go to the emergency room with no insurance?
Average ER visit cost
An ER visit costs $1,500 to $3,000 on average without insurance, with most people spending about $2,100 for an urgent, non-life-threatening health issue. The cost of an emergency room visit depends on the severity of the condition and the tests, treatments, and medications needed to treat it.
What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?
Americans are no longer taxed for not carrying health insurance. Medical debt contributes to a large number of bankruptcies in America. Access to quality primary care is critical, but doctors have the right to refuse patients without insurance or who are able to pay out-of-pocket expenses.
Can you legally not have health insurance?
As of 2020, California residents must have MEC for the entire calendar year or pay a penalty when filing their income tax return. This mandate applies to each resident, including their spouse (or domestic partner) and any claimed dependents. If you qualify, you can claim an exemption to the penalty on your tax return.
How many countries have free healthcare?
All but 43 countries in the world have free healthcare or access to universal healthcare for at least 90% of their citizens according to Hudson's Global Residence Index. However, Brazil is the only country in the world that offers free healthcare for all its citizens.
What is the life expectancy of a person with free healthcare?
On average, life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in countries that have achieved UHC (HALE 68.92 ± 4.04 and LEAB 78.07 ± 4.13) than in countries that are yet to achieve UHC (HALE 58.23 ± 7.66 and LEAB 66.77 ± 8.59).
How many people have died from not having health insurance?
California (3,164 deaths), Texas (2,955 deaths), Florida (2,272 deaths), New York (1,247 deaths), and Georgia (1,161 deaths) (Table 3). Source: Families USA calculations based on estimates by the Institute of Medicine. Table 1.
How many Americans cannot afford healthcare?
Healthcare Affordability Index Findings
Nearly half of Americans are now struggling to afford healthcare services and prescription medications. The Index revealed a record-low affordability rate of 55% in 2024, down from 61% in 2022.
Which state has most uninsured health?
Texas is home to the country's largest share of Americans under 65 without health insurance, according to new Census Bureau data, with 18.8% of residents uninsured as of 2022.
How many immigrants in the US don't have health insurance?
As of 2023, half (50%) of likely undocumented immigrant adults and one in five (18%) lawfully present immigrant adults reported being uninsured compared to less than one in ten naturalized citizen (6%) and U.S.-born citizen (8%) adults.
How many low-income families don't have health insurance?
Most of the 25.3 million people ages 0-64 who are uninsured are adults, in working low-income families, and are people of color.
Is it worth it to not have health insurance?
If you have a medical emergency (they're more common than most people think), and you're uninsured, you're taking on the unnecessary financial risk of having to pay potentially enormous medical bills out of your own pocket.
What is the IRS penalty for not having health insurance?
The fee for not having health insurance (sometimes called the "Shared Responsibility Payment" or "mandate”) ended in 2018. This means you no longer pay a tax penalty for not having health coverage. If you don't have health coverage, you don't need an exemption to avoid paying a tax penalty.
Can I go to the doctor without insurance?
1. Find a community health center or walk-in clinic. Community health centers and walk-in clinics tend to offer more affordable healthcare than visiting a direct primary care doctor. These options are sometimes even free, especially when shopping for preventive screenings or important vaccinations.
What do poor people do for health insurance?
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Some states expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people below certain income levels.
Can a hospital take your house for unpaid medical bills?
The short answer is yes, it is possible to lose your home over unpaid medical bills though the doctor or hospital would have to be willing to go to a lot of effort to make that happen. Medical debt is classified as unsecured debt. This means that your debt isn't tied to any collateral.
Which health insurance denies the most claims?
According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.
What happens if you go to the ER and don't have insurance?
If you have a serious medical problem, hospitals must treat you regardless of whether you have insurance. This includes situations that meet the definition of an emergency. Some situations may not be considered true emergencies, such as: Going to the ER for non-life-threatening care.
How much does a 3 day stay in the hospital cost?
It's easy to underestimate how much medical care can cost: Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. The average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.
Is urgent care cheaper than ER?
An urgent care visit is between $100 and $200 – about ten times less than the average ER visit. If you have insurance, it should only be the cost of your co-pay. Most urgent care clinics are open 7 days a week. And, on average, wait times are 30 minutes or less.