Fact Check: The U.S. has seen an increase in uninsured individuals due to policy changes
What We Know
Recent reports indicate a significant increase in the number of uninsured individuals in the United States, attributed largely to policy changes under the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 26 million Americans lacked health insurance in the first half of 2024. The uninsured population predominantly consists of low-income adults under 65, with a notable concentration in southern and western states.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that states which have not expanded Medicaid, like Georgia, had an uninsured rate of 14.1% in 2023, compared to just 7.6% in states that did expand Medicaid. The anticipated effects of proposed budget legislation, referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," could exacerbate this issue, with estimates suggesting that up to 10.9 million Americans could lose their health insurance by 2034 due to cuts to Medicaid and changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. has seen an increase in uninsured individuals due to policy changes is supported by multiple sources. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has projected that the proposed budget bill could lead to the loss of health insurance for millions of Americans, primarily through cuts to Medicaid and alterations to ACA provisions. The CBO's analysis indicates that the Senate version of the bill could result in 11.8 million more Americans becoming uninsured by 2034, which is a significant increase from previous estimates (source-3).
Moreover, the KFF has highlighted that the proposed changes could lead to catastrophic effects on health coverage, particularly for vulnerable populations who already struggle to access affordable care (source-1). The potential for increased uninsured rates is further corroborated by reports indicating that the legislation could result in deeper cuts to Medicaid than previously anticipated, affecting millions of low-income families (source-4).
While some sources, such as County Local News, argue that the estimates of uninsured individuals could vary based on different interpretations of the bill's impact, the consensus among reputable health policy analysts and organizations is that the proposed changes will likely lead to an increase in the uninsured population.
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. has seen an increase in uninsured individuals due to policy changes is True. The evidence from credible sources such as the CDC, CBO, and KFF strongly supports this assertion, indicating that proposed legislative changes are expected to significantly increase the number of uninsured Americans.
Sources
- U.S. uninsured rates could resurge if Trump's budget bill passes
- Senate Version of Trump's Policy Bill Would Slash Medicaid Spending ...
- At least 17 million Americans would lose insurance under ...
- About 17 Million More People Could be Uninsured due to the Big ...
- Is Trump's Bill Really Leaving 10.9 Million Without Care? — uninsured ...
- How Will the 2025 Reconciliation Bill Affect the Uninsured ...
- Budget Reconciliation Bill May Add 11 Million Uninsured, CBO Says
- Uninsured - KFF
