Close
IntroductionKey FindingsHealth OutcomesSocial and Economic FactorsPhysical EnvironmentClinical CareAppendixMeasures TableMethodologyLimitationsReferencesData Source DescriptionsDemographic Group Definitions
2024 Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Data Brief2024 Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Data Brief - State Profiles2024 Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Data Brief - Measures Table2024 Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Data Brief – Infographics2024 Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Data Brief – Data Export
Uninsured
Health insurance is vital for timely access to affordable health care services before, during, and after pregnancy.13 However, approximately 7 million females ages 18-44 in the U.S. are uninsured. As a measure to indicate access to clinical care, uninsured is defined as the percentage of females of reproductive age (18-44) who do not have any private or public insurance coverage, including access to Indian Health Services or Veterans Administration care.
Nationally, the percentage of females ages 18-44 who are uninsured decreased 43% from 20.7% to 11.9% between 2010-2014 and 2018-2022. Between these periods, notable improvements occurred across demographic groups:
- 87% decrease among American Indian/Alaska Native (46.6% to 6.1%) females.
- 42% decrease among those with post–high school education (19.4% to 11.2%).
- 42% decrease among those with household incomes below $25,000 (34.3% to 20.0%).
Despite overall improvements to insurance coverage across all demographic groups, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities persist. Among females ages 18-44, uninsured rates were:
- 3.7 times higher among Hispanic (22.6%) than American Indian/Alaska Native (6.1%) females, 3.2 times higher than Asian females (7.1%), 2.8 times higher than white females (8.2%), and 2.5 times higher than multiracial females (8.9%).
- 5.8 times higher among those with less than a high school education (28.4%) than college graduates (4.9%).
- 2.8 times higher among those with household incomes below $25,000 (20.0%) than those with $75,000 or more (7.1%).
Additional Context: Maternal health is also shaped by the availability of health services.
Timely access to care before, during, and after pregnancy also may be impacted by the availability of services.
Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on access to maternal reproductive health care and preventive services before, during, and after pregnancy. While this analysis did not explore the impact of COVID-19 on highlighted measures, the impacts are well-documented in literature. Many experienced disruptions in routine prenatal care visits due to clinic closures, reduced availability of health care providers, and concerns about COVID-19 exposure.14 Access to prenatal and postpartum care visits may have been affected by health care system strain, shifting resources, and individual concerns about COVID-19 exposure.15
State Profiles provide tailored data and local insights on additional measures related to the availability of maternal health services, including adequate prenatal care, maternity care access, and well-woman visits.