What percentage of the US population is covered by Medicaid as of 2013?

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As of 2013, approximately 15.3% of the U.S. population was covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) combined, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data. Depending on the specific federal survey metric or whether standalone Medicaid figures from alternative annual supplements were utilized, individual estimates for government-tracked participation around that period ranged between 15.3% and 17.3%.

📊 2013 Coverage Breakdown

  • Medicaid/CHIP (Combined ACS): 15.3% of the total population.
  • Medicaid-only (CPS estimate): Approximately 17.3% of the population.
  • Context: These figures precede the major 2014 coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act.

What percent of US citizens are on Medicaid?

Approximately 20% to 26% of the U.S. population (about 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 Americans) is enrolled in Medicaid or combined Medicaid and CHIP programs, depending on the specific administrative data count used.

Enrollment Breakdown

  • Total Numbers: Roughly 73 million to 83 million individuals are covered, which includes comprehensive and partial-benefit enrollees tracked by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
  • Children: Medicaid and CHIP cover nearly 40% of all children in the United States.
  • State Variation: State-level enrollment shares vary widely, ranging from under 10% to over 40% of a given state's population based on local eligibility rules and expansion status. You can review details on state differences through USAFacts or KFF.

What percent of people on Medicaid are Republican?

Approximately 27% of adults enrolled in Medicaid identify as Republican or lean Republican, according to polling data from KFF.

Political Breakdown of Medicaid Enrollees

  • Republicans / Lean Republican: 27% (including 19% who specifically identify as MAGA supporters).
  • Democrats / Lean Democratic: 37%.
  • No Party Preference / Independent: 36%.

Additional Context

  • Geographic Distribution: Data analyzed by CNN notes that roughly 29% of Republican congressional districts have higher-than-average Medicaid enrollment rates.
  • Bipartisan Support: Polling highlights that Medicaid maintains broad favorability across party lines, with roughly 74% of Republicans expressing a favorable view of the program.

What race is the highest on Medicaid?

In raw numbers, White (non-Hispanic) individuals make up the largest share of total Medicaid enrollees, but people of color are disproportionately enrolled relative to their share of the U.S. population.

Total Enrollment Distribution

According to national Medicaid data and KFF State Health Facts, the breakdown of total non-elderly enrollees by race and ethnicity is approximately:

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~36% to 43%
  • Hispanic / Latino: ~28% to 31%
  • Black (non-Hispanic): ~19% to 21%
  • Asian / Pacific Islander: ~4% to 5.5%
  • American Indian / Alaska Native (AIAN): ~1.3%

Disproportionate Representation

While White enrollees represent the plurality of total users due to the larger size of the total U.S. White population, minority groups rely on Medicaid at much higher rates relative to their share of the general population:

  • Hispanic people make up roughly 19.5% of the total U.S. population, but nearly 30% of Medicaid enrollees.
  • Black Americans make up about 13.7% of the U.S. population, but roughly 20% of Medicaid enrollees.
  • American Indian and Alaska Native individuals experience some of the highest reliance and coverage rates, particularly in specific categories such as coverage at the time of birth (64.6%), compared to 27.3% for White women.

Who are the biggest recipients of Medicaid?

Children make up the largest group of Medicaid beneficiaries by enrollment numbers, while adults and seniors with higher medical needs account for the majority of the program's spending.

By Enrollment (Who Receives the Most)

  • Children: Comprise roughly 36% to 38% of all people enrolled in Medicaid, providing health coverage to nearly 40% of all children nationwide.
  • Non-Elderly Adults: Make up around 42% of enrollees, which includes low-income parents, pregnant individuals, and expansion adults.
  • People with Disabilities: Represent about 10% of total enrollees.
  • Seniors (Ages 65+): Account for about 10% of total enrollees.

By Spending (Where the Money Goes)

While children make up the largest share of people on Medicaid, they account for only about 15% of total program spending. In contrast:

  • Seniors and People with Disabilities make up a smaller total percentage of enrollees, but they account for over half of all Medicaid spending. This is due to their need for intensive medical services, long-term care, and institutional support.
  • Nursing Home Care: Medicaid pays for over 60% of all nursing home residents in the United States, making long-term institutional and community care one of the most significant cost drivers for the program.

Optional Medicaid Expansion: Considerations Facing the States

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How many people on Medicaid voted for Trump?

Data from the 2024 presidential election indicates that Donald Trump won about 49% of Medicaid recipients, narrowly outperforming Kamala Harris among this group.

Key Details on Medicaid and Trump Voters

  • Percentage and Vote Share: According to post-election data from Morning Consult, approximately 49% of Medicaid beneficiaries voted for Trump, compared to 47% who voted for Harris.
  • Total Number of Recipients: With total national Medicaid enrollment hovering around 72 million people, a 49% share among voters in this demographic translates to millions of individual beneficiaries.
  • Personal Connections: Polling by KFF indicates that roughly 40% to 45% of Trump voters report that they or a family member have received coverage through Medicaid, while specific voter surveys by pollster Fabrizio Ward suggest that about 1 in 5 Trump voters have personally been enrolled in the program.
  • Geographic Breakdown: Millions of Medicaid enrollees live in red or swing states won by Trump, with over two-thirds of U.S. counties experiencing the highest growth in Medicaid enrollment since 2008 having voted for Trump in recent elections.

What is the highest income to qualify for Medicaid?

The highest income to qualify for Medicaid depends on your state, household size, and category, but in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, non-disabled adults qualify with an income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

For example, based on 2026 federal guidelines for the continental U.S., 138% of the FPL equals roughly:

  • Single adult: About $22,000 per year (or $1,833 per month)
  • Family of three: About $37,700 per year (or $3,142 per month)

Income Limits by Category

  • Expansion Adults (Non-disabled): 138% FPL in expansion states; non-expansion states have much lower or strict non-income-based limits for adults without children.
  • Children and Pregnant Women: Much higher limits, often ranging from 200% to over 375% of the FPL depending on the state.
  • Long-Term Care / Nursing Home / Aged & Disabled: Often capped around 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate (about $2,982 per month for an individual in 2026), though individuals over these limits can often still qualify using specialized income trusts.

You can check specific rules and portals through HealthCare.gov or your state's official Medicaid agency.

Which state has the highest percentage of Medicaid recipients?

Louisiana has the highest percentage of its population enrolled in Medicaid at 43.4%, according to recent USAFacts data.

Top States by Medicaid Share

  • Louisiana: 43.4% of the population
  • New Mexico: 41.8% of the population
  • Washington, D.C.: 39.5% of the population (federal district)
  • California: 37.6% of the population
  • New York: 36.2% of the population

Key Details

  • Variation: Enrollment rates vary based on state rules for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion, local demographics, and poverty levels.
  • Low End: Utah has the lowest participation rate among states at 10.3%.

Does Medicaid pay 100% of your medical bills?

No, Medicaid does not pay 100% of all medical bills.

How Medicaid Costs Work

  • Covered Services: Medicaid pays for most essential health services, but the exact list depends on your state.
  • Copayments and Fees: Many states charge small copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for doctor visits, prescriptions, or hospital stays, though some groups (like children or pregnant individuals) are exempt.
  • Non-Covered Services: If a treatment or service is not approved or covered by your state's Medicaid program, you must pay for it yourself.
  • Provider Acceptance: Not all doctors and hospitals accept Medicaid. If you see a provider who does not accept it, Medicaid will not pay the bill.
  • Balance Billing Protection: If a provider does accept Medicaid, they cannot charge you more than what Medicaid allows for covered services (known as balance billing).
  • Mixed Experiences: Opinions on Reddit show that while some enrollees pay nothing for care, others face out-of-pocket costs based on their state rules and specific programs.

What states have the worst Medicaid coverage?

States like Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana consistently rank among the worst for Medicaid and low-income healthcare coverage.

Key Factors Behind Poor Rankings

  • No Medicaid Expansion: States like Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia have chosen not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving hundreds of thousands of low-income adults in a "coverage gap".
  • Low Reimbursement Rates: States such as Nevada, Rhode Island, and Louisiana suffer from low provider reimbursement rates, making it difficult for patients to find doctors who accept Medicaid.
  • High Uninsured Rates: Restrictive eligibility rules and high procedural disenrollment rates in southern and western states contribute to large numbers of residents lacking continuous health coverage.

You can review a detailed state-by-state evaluation on WalletHub's Medicaid Rankings.