U.S. Health Coverage Slips as 223,000 Working-Age Oregonians and Children Remain Uninsured

More U.S. counties are losing ground in health insurance coverage, while new Census data show that more than 223,000 working-age Oregonians and children remain uninsured, with rates varying widely by county.

US Health Insurance: Uninsured Numbers Escalate

The latest census data show that uninsured rates increased in 427 U.S. counties between 2023 and 2024, while rates decreased in only 65. At the same time, the median county uninsured rate rose from 9.3% to 9.8%. It appears that children are being more affected by unaffordable health insurance rates.

While only 41.4% of counties had uninsured rates below 10% (down from 46.3%), among adults ages 18 to 64, rates increased in 296 counties and decreased in 73. Uninsured rates among children increased in 185 counties and decreased in only nine.

Expensive Health Insurance Sees More Oregonians Uninsured

The census data also shows that, in Oregon, 6.6% of residents- an estimated 223,111 residents- under 65 lacked insurance in 2024. Morrow County had Oregon’s highest uninsured rate at 10.7%, while Hood River County followed at 10.6%, and Malheur County came in at 9.5%.

Remarkably, Oregon’s statewide rate was 6.8% in 2023, marginally dropping to 6.6%, despite the national county picture worsening. Uninsured rates in other Oregon Counties were:

• Marion County had 25,815 uninsured residents (9.1%).
• Multnomah County had the largest uninsured population at 40,808, but the rate was lower at 6.1%.
• Washington County had 28,450 uninsured residents (5.5%).
• Clackamas County recorded the state’s lowest rate at 5.1%.