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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance

Medicaid's Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
Discusses the roles Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play in providing health coverage to residents of small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) on the percentage of children, non-elderly adults, and older adults covered by Medicaid and CHIP in 2023, and compares the share of Medicaid coverage of these groups by metro areas and small town/rural residence. Describes Medicaid coverage of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in metro and non-metro areas. Includes lists of the top 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of children, non-elderly adults, and older adults covered by Medicaid.
Author(s): Joan Alker, Aubrianna Osorio, Edwin Park
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
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Healthcare Insurance Coverage, Affordability of Coverage, and Access to Care, 2021-2024
Provides an overview of health insurance access between 2021 and 2024. Provides data on the national uninsured rate, enrollment in new insurance plans after a consumer's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) disenrollment, and indicators on healthcare access and affordability for both children and adults. Includes select data on rural consumers, such as projected savings and uninsurance rates.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Medical Debt and Its Impact on Rural Patients and Providers, with Carrie Henning-Smith
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carrie Henning-Smith, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2024
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2014-2024.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Health Differences Between Rural and Non-Rural Texas Counties Based on 2023 County Health Rankings
Examines rural versus nonrural counties in Texas by health outcomes and factors. Utilizes 2023 County Health Rankings data to explore county-level health disparities and includes maps showing health insurance, poverty, length and quality of life, socioeconomic factors, physical environment, health behavior, and clinical care ratings by county.
Author(s): Elizabeth Ekren, Shadi Maleki, Cristian Curran, Cassidy Watkins, Melinda M. Villagran
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 2
Date: 01/2025
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Minnesota Chartbook Section 6: Uninsurance, Forgone Care, and the Safety Net
Reports on uninsurance trends in Minnesota from 2007 to 2023. Discusses statewide measures, population groups, characteristics and potential access to coverage of the uninsured, and uncompensated care. Includes charts showing rural versus urban hospital uncompensated care expenses.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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New Mexico Health Care Authority Data Book 2025
2025 data book providing dashboards on food security, health and wellness, housing, healthcare access and affordability, health insurance coverage, Medicaid eligibility, and more for the state of New Mexico. Includes county-level data on a variety of demographic, economic, and health topics.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Health Care Authority
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2025 Indiana Girl Report Dashboard
Provides interactive regional and county-level data on girls in Indiana. Includes demographic information, population to provider ratios, health insurance data, educational attainment, reported bullying, poverty, and more. Offers interactive county-level maps as well as county-level data in the drop-down menu.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Girl Coalition of Indiana, Girl Scouts, Indiana Youth Institute
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2025 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot
Presents data on rural North Carolina demographics, health information, and healthcare infrastructure. Offers statistics on issues including food access, income, healthcare coverage, maternal health, behavioral health, housing, internet access, and more. Features a county-level map with shadings showing rural and urban or suburban counties.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Rural Health Association
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Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2025
Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Additional links: Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America 2025
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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