A recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) data brief highlights important disparities in health coverage, access, and outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people, drawing on national datasets such as the American Community Survey, BRFSS, and CDC WONDER.

As of 2023, approximately 7.2 million people in the U.S. identify as AIAN alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity. Despite progress in some areas, AIAN communities continue to experience persistent health disparities that are influenced by access to care, social determinants of health, and systemic inequities.

Among adults under age 65, 21% of AIAN adults are uninsured, which is three times higher than that of White adults (7%). Lack of coverage can delay care, reduce access to preventive services, and exacerbate chronic health conditions.

Medicaid remains a critical source of coverage for AIAN communities. Approximately 35% of AIAN adults under 65and 51% of AIAN children rely on Medicaid or CHIP. Medicaid also plays a key role in funding the Indian Health Service, helping to provide essential health services to communities that might otherwise lack access.

AIAN populations have a life expectancy at birth of 70.1years, compared with 78.4 years for White populations. This gap reflects the cumulative impact of limited access to care, chronic disease disparities, and broader social and economic challenges.

Read the full KFF report: Key Data on Health and Health Care for American Indian or Alaska Native People