The Real Lesson Of America’s Rising Uninsured Rate
Key takeaways
- Policy The Real Lesson Of America’s Rising Uninsured Rate By Sally Pipes,
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- "The latest uninsured figures show that expanding subsidies and public programs is not enough," writes health policy expert Sally Pipes.
Policy The Real Lesson Of America’s Rising Uninsured Rate By Sally Pipes,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Sally Pipes is a scholar and think tank CEO who writes on health care.Follow Author Jun 29, 2026, 08:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Summary A KFF analysis reveals 26.7 million Americans are uninsured, but the report suggests this figure oversimplifies the issue. Over half of the uninsured may be eligible for existing subsidized plans, and many forgo coverage by choice, not solely due to cost. The article argues that Obamacare's mandates contribute to expensive and restrictive insurance options, while limited access to short-term plans and Medicaid's low doctor reimbursement further deter enrollment. The core problem isn't just a lack of insurance, but that available coverage is often too costly, unattractive, or difficult to navigate. Experts suggest policymakers should prioritize making insurance better and cheaper, rather than just increasing subsidies, by rolling back regulations to foster more appealing options.
"The latest uninsured figures show that expanding subsidies and public programs is not enough," writes health policy expert Sally Pipes. "If policymakers want more Americans to obtain coverage, they need to make insurance better and cheaper—not merely more heavily subsidized."gettyThe number of uninsured Americans ticked upward to 26.7 million in 2024, according to an analysis published this month by KFF.