Estimates of the Impact of COVID-19 on Disruptions and Potential Loss of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance (ESI)

This brief estimates that in the four weeks leading up to April 11, 2020, as many as 18.4 million individuals in the United States may be at risk of losing their employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) coverage, including policyholders and their dependents.

In a worst-case scenario, the loss of employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) could increase the national rate of uninsured by 65 percent—from 8.8 percent to 14.5 percent—and the numbers of uninsured from 28.5 to 46.9 million.