Myths

Myth #1
The uninsured go without coverage because they don't want it or believe they don't need it.
Fact
The majority of people who are uninsured, regardless of age, say they forgo coverage because they can't afford it, not because they don't need it. More than half (52%) say the main reason they don't have insurance is because it's too expensive.

Myth #2
Most of the uninsured don't have health insurance because they are not working and so don't have access to health benefits through an employer.
Fact
Most of the uninsured are either working full-time or have someone in their immediate family who does. The problem is that the majority of the uninsured are not offered benefits through their employers. Eight in 10 Americans come from working families, but 81% of uninsured workers are not eligible for their employers’ plans or are employed by firms who don't sponsor health benefits.

Myth #3
Most of the growth in the uninsured has been among those with higher incomes.
Fact
The majority of growth in the uninsured since 2000 has been among people earning less than $38,000 per year for a family of four. Overall, two-thirds of the uninsured are low-income, with one-third living in poverty.

Myth #4
Most of the uninsured are new immigrants who are not U.S. citizens.
Fact
The large majority of the uninsured (79%) are American citizens. New immigrants represent only 10% of the uninsured populations.

Myth #5
The uninsured often receive health services for free or at reduced charge.
Fact
Free or even discounted health services are not common and when the uninsured are unable to pay the full costs, the unpaid medical bills add to their providers’ costs. The uninsured pay more than 40% of the costs of their care out-of-pocket, but many have real problems paying their medical bills. The uninsured are twice as likely as the insured to have problems paying their medical bills and three times as likely to be contacted by a collection agency about medical bills.

Myth #6
The uninsured get the care they need when they really need it and are able to avoid serious health problems.
Fact
The uninsured are more likely to postpone or forgo care, with serious consequences that increase their chances of preventable health problems, disability, and premature death.


Information provided by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation