Prognosis

What It’s Like Living Without Health Insurance in America

Forced to choose between paying bills and having health coverage, many Americans are risking it and going without.
Illustration: Cathryn Virginia

Last week, Bloomberg News told the story of three families without health insurance. We also asked readers to share their own stories as we spend the next year following people who are “risking it.”

The response was overwhelming. More than 3,000 people from across the U.S. filled out our questionnaire and shared their challenges, and how their decisions have affected their health and financial well-being.