Health insurance coverage affects how easily and how often people use health care services. Individuals with inconsistent or no health insurance might not receive the services they need to prevent or treat health problems. Uninsured women have a harder time getting the health care they need before, during and after pregnancy compared to insured women, and this can negatively impact their health and the health of their babies. Government services like Medicaid provide some uninsured women and children with access to critical health services.
Last updated:
December 2020
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In 2020, about 1 in 9 women of childbearing age (11.6%) was uninsured in the United States.
In 2020, about 1 in 18 children less than 19 years of age (5.5%) was uninsured in the United States.
Notes: All race categories exclude Hispanics. Medicaid percentages indicate a woman was insured with Medicaid at the time of her birth.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from www.marchofdimes.org/peristats.
In the United States, during 2021-2023 (average), Medicaid coverage percent at the time of birth were highest for American Indian/Alaska Native women (65.4%), followed by Blacks (64.1%), Hispanics (58.6%), Whites (27.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (24.0%).