Health Insurance by Race and Hispanic Origin

The U.S. Census Bureau released a brief on health insurance coverage and the rate of uninsured in the United States by race and Hispanic origin. The brief uses 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates to describe how health care coverage — whether people have health insurance as well as the type of coverage they hold — varies across groups.

The report shows that disparities in health coverage by race and Hispanic origin persist despite data showing that differences in the uninsured rate between White, non-Hispanic individuals under the age of 65 and members of other race and Hispanic origin groups narrowed after provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were implemented in 2014.

Other highlights:

• The U.S. uninsured rate in 2021 across race and Hispanic origin groups ranged from 5.7% for White, non-Hispanic people to 18.8% for those identifying as American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic. Hispanic or Latino people had among the highest uninsured rate in the nation at 17.7%.
• Private health coverage rates ranged from 43.1% among American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic people to about 74.2% for White, non-Hispanic people. Lower rates of private cover­age for some groups were partly offset by higher rates of public coverage for these groups.
• Across race and Hispanic origin groups, children living with their parents had the highest rates of private coverage in 2021. However, fewer than half of Black, non-Hispanic; American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic; and Hispanic children living with their parents were covered by private health insurance.