How many people get governmental assistance?
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The federal government has assistance programs in place to support Americans who can’t afford food, housing, healthcare, and other needs. You may have heard these programs referred to as a “social safety net.” How many Americans use these programs, and what populations do they serve?
- Nearly 100 million Americans received some form of government assistance in 2019. In 2022, around one in three Americans — including nearly half of all American children — were enrolled in at least one of those programs.
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- Some examples of governmental assistance programs include Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Social Security, Medicare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the National School Lunch Program. People pay into some of these programs through payroll taxes, while others are funded with other government revenue sources.
- In 2022, nearly one in four Americans received Medicaid, while Medicare and Social Security covered around one in five. SNAP followed, offering benefits to 11.7% of Americans.
- These programs support different populations depending on their eligibility. Medicare covered 93.2% of people 65 and older, and Social Security covered 84.3%. The National School Lunch Program provided free or reduced-price lunches to 38.7% of the country’s children, equivalent to 8.8% of Americans.
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How many people skip medical care due to the cost?
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Despite some progress since 2013, some Americans still skip medical treatments because they can’t afford them. The numbers reveal ongoing challenges, especially among lower-income families and people without insurance.
- In 2023, 27% of American adults avoided medical treatments because they couldn’t afford them. This was down a percentage point from 2022 but still higher than any other year since 2017. The highest percentage was in 2013, when data collection began, at 32%.
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- Dental care was the most commonly skipped service (19% of patients), followed by doctor visits (15%), prescription medications (10%), follow-up care (9%), and mental health visits (9%).
- Income plays a role: 42% of people with family incomes of less than $25,000 skipped treatment, while 12% of people in families earning over $100,000 did.
- Twenty-three percent of adults had unexpected medical bills, with the median cost between $1,000 and $1,999. Sometimes, out-of-pocket expenses can put people into debt; 17% incurred medical debt for themselves or their families.
- About 26.2 million people, or 7.9% of Americans, didn't have health insurance in 2023. Eleven percent of adults ages 19 to 64 were uninsured, while 5.4% of people under 19 lacked coverage.
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Last week, the Biden administration said that over 1 million people have had their federal student debt canceled through a program for public service workers. Here's the bigger picture of how much student debt Americans owe.
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It's that time again: the weekly fact quiz is right here! |
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One last fact: Election edition
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Thirty-six million voters are registered Republicans. Wyoming has the highest percentage of registered Republicans (80.8%). |
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About 45.1 million people are registered as Democrats. Washington, DC, has the highest percentage of registered Democrats (76.2%). Maryland has the next highest at 52.5%.
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