Many uninsured people do not obtain the treatments their health care providers recommend for them because of the cost of care. In 2022, uninsured nonelderly adults were over twice as likely as adults with private coverage to say that they delayed filling or did not get a needed prescription drug due to cost (12.3% vs. 5.4%). And while insured and uninsured people who are injured or newly diagnosed with a chronic condition receive similar plans for follow-up care, people without health coverage are less likely than those with coverage to obtain all the recommended services.

Uninsured children were more likely than those with private insurance to go without needed care due to cost in 2022 (8.6% versus less than 1%). Furthermore, nearly one-quarter (24.5%) of uninsured children had not seen a doctor in the past year compared to 4.3% and 5.7% for children with public and private coverage, respectively 

Because people without health coverage are less likely than those with insurance to have regular outpatient care, they are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable health problems and to experience declines in their overall health. When they are hospitalized, uninsured people receive fewer diagnostic and therapeutic services and also have higher mortality rates than those with insurance