Uninsured rate in Minnesota spikes, climbing to the highest level in 6 years

The Minnesota Department of Health released initial findings from a report Tuesday indicating that the state’s uninsured rate has climbed from an all-time low to the highest level in six years, raising concerns about potential future declines in health insurance coverage.

Data from the Minnesota Health Access Survey show that the percentage of Minnesotans who went without health insurance increased from 3.8 percent in 2023 to 5.8 percent in 2025, resulting in approximately 116,000 additional individuals without insurance.

"The sharp increase in uninsured Minnesotans over the past two years is deeply disturbing, as are the long-standing disparities in the uninsured rate by race/ethnicity and income that continue to persist,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham said in a statement.

Uninsurance rates have risen across the state and among nearly all demographic groups, including those defined by income, race or ethnicity, age, sex and geography, highlighting persistent disparities, the health department said in its report.

In Minnesota, Hispanic residents are the least likely to have health insurance, with over 20 percent of the population reported as uninsured. Additionally, Black and Native American residents in Minnesota experience disproportionately high rates of uninsurance compared to white residents.

Individuals with lower incomes are more than twice as likely to be uninsured in Minnesota. In 2025, 13 percent of people earning below 200 percent of the federal poverty level reported that they were uninsured, according to survey data.

“For most people, health care is unaffordable without insurance,” Cunningham said in a statement. This results in delayed or deferred care and worse health outcomes, more medical debt for families, and increased rates of uncompensated care for health systems."

Stefan Gildemeister, the state’s health economist, said the most striking finding is the decline in the number of Minnesotans enrolled in the state’s public health insurance programs.

The rise in the uninsured rate is partly attributed to a reduction in public health care program coverage, specifically through programs such as Medicaid, more commonly known in Minnesota as Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, a health insurance program for low-income people.

“When we asked them why they didn't seek other coverage in the private market, for example, or through their employers, what we're hearing is that the majority say they find coverage to be unaffordable,” Gildemeister said.

In 2025, 4.6 percent of children in Minnesota were without health care coverage, up from 2.7 percent in 2023. Gildemeister said this increase is unusual, as health insurance rates for children typically remain stable. He explained that when parents lose their health insurance, it becomes more challenging for them to maintain coverage for their children.

Concerns about losing health insurance coverage are also on the rise. More than 12 percent of insured Minnesotans reported worrying about losing their coverage. Gildemeister said that residents are struggling with daily expenses and are now either paying for health care out of pocket or forgoing necessary medical treatments.

The Minnesota Health Access Survey, a joint initiative between the health department and the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, collected responses from more than 16,000 residents of Minnesota between September and December 2025. More detailed information and analysis will be available soon.

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