The uninsured rate found for veterans in 2013 is very similar to the rate that prevailed in the 2008-2010 period. Uninsurance is lower among veterans relative to the general population in part based on the availability of care through the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, which provides health care for veterans through a system of clinics and hospitals.
However, some veterans may not use VA services because they live far from providers, do not meet eligibility criteria, or do not know they qualify for VA care, among other reasons. Like the general population, non-elderly veterans who are younger, unmarried, less educated, and poorer are less likely to have coverage. For example, about 1 in 4 non-elderly veterans below the federal poverty level (FPL) lacked health insurance coverage of any type in 2013, according to the ACS.
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