This story is part of our latest Super Issue, which examines how money, burnout and policy are changing the way NKY gets — and gives— medical care. Click here to learn more.
Let’s be honest. We’re all feeling it.
Gas is more expensive. Groceries are more expensive. And healthcare? Well.
A major federal law changed rules around how people access healthcare last year, and Americans are still finding out what the changes mean for them.
While uninsured rates are relatively low in Northern Kentucky now, Aaron Broomall of the Faith Community Health Network said those numbers are likely to change — and soon.
At the end of 2025, there were an estimated 18,000 to 24,000 uninsured individuals in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.
“By 2027, that number could be up over 40,000 uninsured individuals,” Bromall said.
Even those who can afford insurance in Kentucky can’t necessarily get care, according to a 2025 study from the Asclepius Initiative, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable, accessible healthcare.
Despite Kentucky’s relatively low uninsured rate, the study talked to people across the state, including NKY, who told them barriers like too few doctors, long wait times, high costs, transportation problems, mistrust and administrative hurdles are keeping those with insurance from actually going to the doctor.
This is why LINK nky decided to focus on healthcare for this Super Issue. We wanted to talk about why things are changing, what that means for residents, and how local leaders and everyday citizens are stepping in to fill the gaps.
Many of the issues are systemic, but NKY is used to finding grassroots solutions.
Keep reading to learn about how leaders and everyday people are making a difference for those already falling through the cracks before everything started to change.
While I’m at it : If no one knows what’s happening, how are they supposed to get involved?
That’s where LINK nky comes in. You don’t need to know the right people or have a subscription in order to learn about what’s happening in your community. The stories that matter to you aren’t behind a paywall.
We deliver this Super Issue for free to all of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties’ residents every quarter. (That’s 173,000 households, in case you were wondering.)
Ensuring everyone has access to information about our community is part of our mission (linknky.com/our-mission), but it is not free. Or even cheap.
If you are able to make a financial donation, your tax-deductible gift will go directly to ensuring LINK nky can continue to help our community tell its stories for years to come. Scan the QR code on this page to make a one-time or recurring donation.
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If you’ve gotten this far, thank you for still being here! And thank you for supporting LINK nky and the NKY community.
Meghan Goth is the executive editor at LINK nky. Email her at mgoth@linknky.com.
