There are a host of medical conditions that might cause individuals to be at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19. According to the CDC, while smoking rates in the US have fallen in recent years, 16% of the US population still smokes. One in three adults has hypertension (high blood pressure), a known risk factor for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. One in ten adults have been told by a medical professional that they have asthma. Additionally, those with conditions causing immunodeficiencies, such as cancer or HIV, are at heightened risk due to their weakened immune systems. For more information on at-risk populations, see our recent piece on health conditions and coronavirus risk.

What populations might have difficulty accessing healthcare?

As the coronavirus continues to spread, healthcare access will be critical for affected individuals. However, multiple barriers might prevent access to care.

For some, lack of health insurance may be a barrier. According to the Census, 27.5 million Americans, or 8.5% of the population, were uninsured as of 2018, an increase from the 2017 low of 7.9%. The uninsured population skews young, Hispanic, and foreign-born. However, most Americans—67%—are covered by private health insurance, whether they purchased it on their own or received it through their employer. The majority of full-time private-sector workers—85%—received health care benefits from their employer, while only 23% of part-time employees did, according to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If economic conditions continue to worsen and employers are forced to begin layoffs, the number of uninsured individuals may rise, as workers may no longer be able to access benefits through their employer.

Most Americans are covered by private health insurance