In the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), 8.2% of people in the United States were uninsured on average. The uninsured rate by state ranged from 2.8% in Massachusetts to 16.7% in Texas. Working-age adults had a higher uninsured rate (11.3%) than children under 19 (6.0%).
Use the uninsured rate by state as a population-level comparison. Keep the survey year, age group, and coverage definition consistent when comparing results; these averages cannot predict an individual’s eligibility, cost, or access to a particular plan.
What these tables cover: This guide compares all-ages state uninsured rates for 2024 and 2023, followed by national age-group figures and selected state extremes. It is not a complete state-by-age dataset. For the full breakdown, use the Census Bureau’s 2024 ACS additional health-insurance tables and select the coverage-status table by state and age. Keep the survey, year, age band and coverage definition consistent when comparing figures.
Uninsured rate by state: The numbers at a glance
| Measure | 2024 estimate | Quick context |
|---|---|---|
| U.S., all ages | 8.2% | 7.9% in 2023 |
| Adults ages 19–64 | 11.3% | State range: 3.7%–21.6% |
| Children under 19 | 6.0% | State range: 2.1%–13.6% |
| Lowest / highest state, all ages | 2.8% / 16.7% | Massachusetts / Texas |
Key takeaways
- State differences are large. The 2024 all-ages estimate was 2.8% in Massachusetts and 16.7% in Texas. These are state averages, not explanations of why any individual has or lacks coverage.
- Working-age adults had the highest rate among the age groups reported here. The national estimate was 11.3% for adults ages 19–64, compared with 6.0% for children under 19.
- Year-to-year differences need statistical context. Rounded percentages alone do not show whether a change is statistically significant. The Census Bureau tests changes using unrounded estimates and margins of error.
All 50 states: 2024 uninsured rates
This uninsured rate by state comparison uses 2024 ACS estimates; the alphabetical tables include 2023 for context. Values are rounded to one decimal place, so a small difference should not be called a confirmed change unless the Census significance test supports it.
States A–M
| State | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8.2% | 8.5% |
| Alaska | 11.0% | 10.4% |
| Arizona | 10.3% | 9.9% |
| Arkansas | 9.4% | 8.9% |
| California | 5.9% | 6.4% |
| Colorado | 7.9% | 6.7% |
| Connecticut | 5.8% | 5.7% |
| Delaware | 6.9% | 6.5% |
| Florida | 10.9% | 10.7% |
| Georgia | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| Hawaii | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| Idaho | 9.2% | 8.9% |
| Illinois | 6.9% | 6.2% |
| Indiana | 7.5% | 6.9% |
| Iowa | 5.4% | 5.0% |
| Kansas | 8.5% | 8.4% |
| Kentucky | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Louisiana | 7.7% | 6.9% |
| Maine | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| Maryland | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Massachusetts | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| Michigan | 5.1% | 4.5% |
| Minnesota | 5.1% | 4.2% |
| Mississippi | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| Missouri | 7.7% | 7.5% |
| Montana | 8.8% | 8.4% |
States N–W
| State | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 7.1% | 6.1% |
| Nevada | 11.4% | 10.8% |
| New Hampshire | 4.5% | 4.7% |
| New Jersey | 7.7% | 7.2% |
| New Mexico | 10.1% | 9.1% |
| New York | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| North Carolina | 8.6% | 9.2% |
| North Dakota | 6.1% | 4.5% |
| Ohio | 6.7% | 6.1% |
| Oklahoma | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| Oregon | 5.2% | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Rhode Island | 4.6% | 4.5% |
| South Carolina | 9.0% | 9.1% |
| South Dakota | 8.1% | 8.3% |
| Tennessee | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Texas | 16.7% | 16.4% |
| Utah | 8.3% | 8.0% |
| Vermont | 4.2% | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 6.9% | 6.4% |
| Washington | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| West Virginia | 5.8% | 5.9% |
| Wisconsin | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| Wyoming | 10.3% | 10.7% |
How the age groups compare
The ACS state brief reports all ages, adults ages 19–64, and children under 19. It does not provide a matching state-by-state age 65-and-older comparison in this brief.
| Group | U.S. rate | Lowest state | Highest state |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | 8.2% | Massachusetts, 2.8% | Texas, 16.7% |
| Adults ages 19–64 | 11.3% | Massachusetts, 3.7% | Texas, 21.6% |
| Children under 19 | 6.0% | 2.1% (lowest state in the report) | Texas, 13.6% |
People ages 19–64 may get coverage through an employer, a family member, an individual marketplace plan, or public coverage. The rate alone cannot tell us which pathway explains a state’s result. The child group includes 18-year-olds.
How to read changes from 2023 to 2024
When you compare the uninsured rate by state over time, use the Census Bureau’s significance tests. It found statistically significant all-ages increases in 18 states and the District of Columbia, and decreases in California and North Carolina. Among working-age adults, rates increased significantly in 17 states and D.C.; they decreased in California, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Children’s rates increased significantly in 19 states and fell in Connecticut.
Reader tip: Do not infer significance by subtracting the rounded values in the tables. The Census tests changes with unrounded estimates and margins of error.
What “uninsured” means here
The ACS is conducted throughout the year and asks respondents about insurance coverage at the time of interview. Census describes the state estimate as an annual average of current comprehensive coverage status. The measure covers the civilian, noninstitutionalized population and is subject to sampling and other sources of error.
Keep survey measures distinct. A separate 2025 Census CPS ASEC report says 7.9%, or 26.7 million people, were uninsured for the entire year in 2025. That full-calendar-year measure is not the same as the ACS state table above, so the figures are not a like-for-like year-over-year comparison.
What state rates can—and cannot—explain
State estimates may reflect several influences, including residents’ age mix, insurance and eligibility policies, and the timing of Medicaid renewals. A ranking alone cannot establish cause and effect, measure care quality, or show how affordable coverage is for a particular household.
When comparing health statistics, keep the population, survey year, age band, and definition together. See our related explainer on why area-level health patterns do not identify an individual’s risk.
Frequently asked questions
Which state had the highest uninsured rate?
Texas had the highest 2024 ACS rate for all ages, at 16.7%. It also had the highest rate among adults ages 19–64 (21.6%) and children under 19 (13.6%).
Which state had the lowest rate?
Massachusetts had the lowest all-ages rate, 2.8%, and the lowest rate among adults ages 19–64, 3.7%.
What was the U.S. uninsured rate in 2024?
The all-ages U.S. estimate in the 2024 ACS state comparison was 8.2%, up from 7.9% in 2023. It is an annual average of current coverage status, not the CPS ASEC full-calendar-year measure.
Does a state rate tell me whether I can get coverage?
No. A state-level survey estimate is not an eligibility screening tool or an individual quote. Eligibility and enrollment depend on personal circumstances and current program rules; use official federal or state resources for current options.
To retain age composition and survey method in health comparisons, see Age-Adjusted vs Crude Health Rates: Compare Populations Fairly and Reported and Measured Health Data: Compare the Method Before the Percentage.
Sources and update method
Primary source for the uninsured rate by state: U.S. Census Bureau, Health Insurance Coverage by State: 2023 and 2024 (ACSBR-024), including Appendix Table 2 for all-ages state rates and Appendix Tables 3–4 for age-group comparisons. The 2024 ACS accuracy documentation explains sampling and nonsampling error. For the distinct national full-year measure, see Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025.
We reproduce Census estimates rounded to one decimal place. For updates, compare the latest ACS state publication and appendix tables, and use the survey definitions and significance tests when interpreting changes. The publication and modification dates appear at the top of this guide.
For context on interpreting state-level health statistics, see our guide to absolute versus relative risk.