Access to Affordable Care in Rural America: Current Trends and Key Challenges

Medicaid and the Marketplace are important sources of affordable, comprehensive healthcare coverage for millions of Americans living in rural areas, and the American Rescue Plan bolsters rural coverage options. But challenges in accessing care remain in many rural areas, including provider shortages, infrastructure limitations, and long distances to care. In this brief, we describe patterns in insurance coverage and uninsured rates in rural and urban areas; review non-financial challenges in accessing care for rural residents and disparities in health outcomes between rural and urban areas; and conclude by discussing policies, programs, and resources designed to address barriers to care in rural America.

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