There are basically 4 groups of people without insurance (though note that the distribution is based on 2015 data): 1. 42% make too much to qualify for premium

There are basically 4 groups of people without insurance (though note that the distribution is based on 2015 data): 1. 42% make too much to qualify for premium subsidies but elect not to purchase coverage, typically because it's unaffordable or just not worthwhile (the sibling commenters mentioning their expensive, crappy plans fall into this group). 2. 27% qualify for Medicaid, meaning that they could get coverage approximately free but they either don't know how or don't bother to sign up. 3. 22% qualify for partially subsidized coverage, but either they don't think the coverage is worth the money, they don't know how to sign up, or they just don't bother. 4. 9% are in the coverage gap - they live in states that didn't expand Medicaid and make too little to qualify for premium subsidies. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-remaining-uninsured-population-eligible-for-medicaid-and-chip/ https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-t...