The demographics of the uninsured have not changed substantially over time. Today over 70 percent of the 41 million uninsured Americans come from families where there is at least one full-time worker. Two-thirds of all the uninsured come from low-income families (with incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level) and about half of these are children or their parents. Adults make up a disproportionate share of the uninsured representing over three-quarters of the uninsured. About 40% of the uninsured report that their health is not very good (i.e., either good, fair, or poor health) compared to 25% of those with private health insurance.
While these demographics are compelling, they have not been sufficient to effect large- scale health reforms. However, the “personal profile” – where we learn what it means to an individual facing a health problem without the financial security of insurance – may be equally useful in understanding the magnitude of the problem for families, communities, and the nation at large.