15 States Where the Most People Have Health Insurance

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Doctor talking to female patient
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More than 9 in 10 people in the U.S. had some type of health insurance coverage in 2021, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationwide, 8.3% of Americans went uninsured for the full year.

However, the rates of coverage can vary widely from state to state.

Following are the states with the smallest proportion of uninsured residents and, therefore, the biggest share of people covered by health insurance.

For a look at the states at the opposite end of this spectrum, check out “15 States Where the Most People Lack Health Insurance.”

14. Delaware (three-way tie)

New Jersey from Delaware
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The Affordable Care Act of 2010 gave states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to people whose income was below are particular threshold. Delaware, like nearly every other state on this list, is among the majority of states that had expanded their Medicaid programs as of Jan. 1, 2021, the Census Bureau reports.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state health insurance program that covers people with low incomes or disabilities.

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.7%
  • 2019: 6.6%
  • 2010: 9.7%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

14. Maine (three-way tie)

Portland Maine lighthouse
E.J.Johnson Photography / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.7%
  • 2019: 8.0%
  • 2010: 10.1%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

14. Kentucky (three-way tie)

Louisville Kentucky
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.7%
  • 2019: 6.4%
  • 2010: 15.3%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

13. Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.5%
  • 2019: 5.8%
  • 2010: 10.2%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

12. Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.4%
  • 2019: 5.7%
  • 2010: 9.4%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Not expanded

10. New York (tie)

Rochester New York
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.2%
  • 2019: 5.2%
  • 2010: 11.9%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

10. Connecticut (tie)

Hartford, Connecticut
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.2%
  • 2019: 5.9%
  • 2010: 9.1%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

9. New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire
Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.1%
  • 2019: 6.3%
  • 2010: 11.1%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

8. Michigan

Monroe, Michigan
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 5.0%
  • 2019: 5.8%
  • 2010: 12.4%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

7. Iowa

Sheldon, Iowa
Joel McCartan / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 4.8%
  • 2019: 5.0%
  • 2010: 9.3%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

6. Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota
nikitsin.smugmug.com / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 4.5%
  • 2019: 4.9%
  • 2010: 9.1%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

5. Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 4.3%
  • 2019: 4.1%
  • 2010: 12.2%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

4. Hawaii

Lanikai Beach in Kailua, Hawaii
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 3.9%
  • 2019: 4.2%
  • 2010: 7.9%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

2. District of Columbia (tie)

U.S. Capitol
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District’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 3.7%
  • 2019: 3.5%
  • 2010: 7.6%

District’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

2. Vermont (tie)

Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont
NEKVT / Shutterstock.com

State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 3.7%
  • 2019: 4.5%
  • 2010: 8.0%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded

1. Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts
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State’s population without health insurance coverage in:

  • 2021: 2.5%
  • 2019: 3.0%
  • 2010: 4.4%

State’s Medicaid expansion status as of Jan. 1, 2021: Expanded