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Mental health and primary care providers per capita have increased in recent years. While uninsured rates are lower than a decade ago, significant disparities persist.
Providers
Mental Health Providers
Mental health providers offer essential care to adults and children with mental or behavioral disorders through assessments, diagnoses, treatments, medications and therapeutic interventions. Only 50.6% of adults with mental illness and 66.7% of those with severe mental illness reported receiving treatment in 2022.
Changes over time. Mental health providers — psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care — increased 50% nationally, from 230.5 to 344.9 providers per 100,000 population between September 2018 and September 2024 and 6% (from 325.0) in the past year.
Between September 2023 and September 2024, the rate of mental health providers increased the same as or more than the national change in 39 states, led by: 11% in West Virginia (185.6 to 206.2), and 9% in Virginia (250.4 to 273.1), Texas (162.0 to 175.9), South Dakota (234.4 to 254.4) and Alabama (140.0 to 152.2).
Disparities. The rate of mental health providers varied by geography in September 2024 and was 5.2 times higher in Massachusetts (791.5 providers per 100,000 population) than in Alabama (152.2).
Primary Care Providers
Primary care physicians provide critical preventive care, disease management and referrals to specialists. The Health Resources and Services Administration has estimated that, as of November 2024, an additional 13,000 primary care providers are necessary to meet current U.S. health care needs in designated health workforce shortage areas. The deficit is projected to grow to at least 20,200 physicians by 2034.
Changes over time. Nationally, primary care providers — active primary care providers (including general practice, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics, internal medicine, physician assistants and nurse practitioners) — increased 36%, from 209.0 to 283.4 providers per 100,000 population between September 2018 and September 2024 and 4% (from 271.7) in the past year.
Between September 2023 and September 2024, the number of primary care providers increased the same as or more than the national change in 41 states, led by: 6% in Utah (219.3 to 231.6 providers per 100,000 population), New Jersey (224.1 to 236.5), Nevada (217.1 to 230.8) and Delaware (314.2 to 332.8 providers per 100,000).
Disparities. The number of primary care providers varied by geography in September 2024 and was 1.8 times higher in Massachusetts (395.1 providers per 100,000 population) than Texas (221.0).
Uninsured
In 2022, an analysis found that 64% of uninsured adults reported being uninsured because they could not afford health insurance. Individuals who are uninsured or experience inconsistent health care coverage encounter more interruptions in accessing care and difficulties in covering medical expenses than individuals with continuous insurance coverage.
Changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of the population not covered by private or public health insurance decreased 49% from 15.5% to 7.9% of the population between 2010 and 2023.
During this time frame, the percentage of uninsured decreased the same as or more than the national change in 25 states and the District of Columbia, led by: 68% in Oregon (17.1% to 5.5%), and 65% in both California (18.5% to 6.4%) and Kentucky (15.3% to 5.4%).
Disparities. The uninsured rate varied significantly by geography, education, race/ethnicity and age in 2023. The rate was:
- 6.3 times higher in Texas (16.4%) than Massachusetts (2.6%).
- 5.9 times higher among those with less than a high school education (20.7%) than college graduates (3.5%).
- 3.7 times higher among those who identify as other race (18.8%) compared with the white population (5.1%) and 3.6 times higher among the American Indian/Alaska Native population (18.3%) than the white population.
Note: The values for those identifying as other race and the American Indian/Alaska Native (18.3%) population may not differ significantly based on overlapping 95% confidence intervals. The same is true for the white and Asian (5.3%) populations.
Preventive Clinical Services
Flu vaccination rates have decreased recently but remain higher than in 2011.
Flu Vaccination*
A flu vaccine is the best protection against seasonal influenza viruses, which can seriously threaten health. Each year in the United States, millions of people get the flu, and thousands of people die from it. The vaccination can reduce the intensity of symptoms, defend against catching the virus and protect those with chronic illnesses.
Changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of adults who reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine in the past 12 months increased 14% from 37.5% to 42.9% of adults between 2012 and 2023. Despite this long-term success, the percentage decreased 6% (from 45.6%) between 2022 and 2023 and has yet to meet the Healthy People 2030 target. Healthy People 2030 has a target to increase the proportion of people age 6 months and older who get the flu vaccine to 70%.
Between 2012 and 2023, the percentage of adults who received flu vaccinations decreased 15% among American Indian/Alaska Native adults (38.0% to 32.2%) and increased:
- 26% among college graduates (43.9% to 55.1%) and 10% among adults with some post-high school education (37.7% to 41.6%).
- 18% among adults ages 18-44 (26.2% to 30.9%), 13% among adults ages 45-64 (37.6% to 42.3%) and 6% among adults age 65 and older (59.4% to 63.2%).
- 16% among adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more (41.7% to 48.4%), 13% among adults with incomes of $50,000-$74,999 (38.5% to 43.4%), 11% among adults with incomes less than $25,000 (33.1% to 36.7%) and 6% among adults with incomes of $25,000-$49,999 (37.3% to 39.7%).
During the same period, flu vaccinations increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia, led by: 48% in the District of Columbia (36.9% to 54.7%), 39% in Illinois (32.6% to 45.2%) and 37% in Wisconsin (33.7% to 46.1%). It also decreased 16% in Tennessee (43.4% to 36.6%), 11% in West Virginia (43.9% to 39.1%) and 8% in Oklahoma (40.9% to 37.5%).
Recently, between 2022 and 2023, flu vaccinations decreased:
- 10% among high school graduates (40.3% to 36.2%), 8% among adults with some post-high school education (45.2% to 41.6%) and 5% among college graduates (57.7% to 55.1%).
- 9% among adults living in nonmetropolitan areas (40.6% to 37.1%) and 6% among adults living in metropolitan areas (45.9% to 43.2%).
- 8% among adults ages 45-64 (45.9% to 42.3%), 7% among adults age 65 and older (67.7% to 63.2%) and 6% among adults ages 18-44 (32.7% to 30.9%).
- 8% among adults with an annual household income of $25,000-$49,999 (43.1% to 39.7%), 6% among adults with incomes of $50,000-$74,999 (46.4% to 43.4%), adults with incomes of $75,000 or more (51.7% to 48.4%) and among adults with incomes less than $25,000 (39.1% to 36.7%).
- 7% among men (41.6% to 38.7%) and 6% among women (48.2% to 45.4%).
- 7% among adults who have not served in the U.S. armed forces (43.8% to 40.9%) and 4% among adults who have served (56.1% to 53.6%).
- 6% among adults with difficulty hearing (54.6% to 51.3%), adults who have difficulty with cognition (39.6% to 37.3%), adults without a disability (44.2% to 41.5%) and 5% among adults who have difficulty with mobility (53.6% to 50.8%).
During this time frame, flu vaccinations decreased in 22 states; the largest were: 18% in Idaho (39.2% to 32.1%), 17% in Michigan (50.4% to 42.0%) and 14% in both Indiana (45.6% to 39.3%) and North Dakota (45.5% to 39.2%).
Disparities. Flu vaccinations varied significantly by age, geography, education, race/ethnicity, disability status, veteran status, income, metropolitan status and gender in 2023. The prevalence was:
- 2.0 times higher among adults age 65 and older (63.2%) than adults ages 18-44 (30.9%).
- 1.6 times higher among college graduates (55.1%) compared with adults with less than a high school education (33.9%).
- 1.6 times higher among Asian (50.9%) than American Indian/Alaska Native (32.2%) adults.
- 1.4 times higher among adults with difficulty hearing (51.3%) than adults who have difficulty with cognition (37.3%).
- 1.3 times higher among adults who have served in the U.S. armed forces (53.6%) than adults who have not served (40.9%).
- 1.3 times higher among adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more (48.4%) than adults with incomes less than $25,000 (36.7%).
- 1.2 times higher among adults living in metropolitan areas (43.2%) than in nonmetropolitan areas (37.1%).
- 1.2 times higher among women (45.4%) than men (38.7%).
*No data were available for Kentucky or Pennsylvania in 2023.
Note: The values for American Indian/Alaska Native, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (32.3%), Hispanic (33.5%) and multiracial (36.4%) adults may not differ significantly based on overlapping 95% confidence intervals. The same is true for adults with difficulty hearing and those who have difficulty with mobility (50.8%).