Health Inclusive Poverty Measure in the United States: 2024

The Health Inclusive Poverty Measure (HIPM) provides a deeper look at economic well-being by incorporating the value of health insurance into both poverty thresholds and household resources. In 2024, the HIPM rate held steady at 14.8%, which is higher than both the Supplemental Poverty Measure and the official poverty rate—largely due to the way it treats uninsured individuals. The report shows that programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid play a major role in lifting millions out of poverty, while those without coverage face significantly higher hardship. HIPM also highlights how health benefits, medical costs, and insurance access shape poverty differently across age, race, and state policy environments.