NO ONE TEACHES HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE UNITED STATES. From the moment someone ages off a parent's plan at 26, through the years leading up to Medicare eligibility at 65, and even after enrolling in Medicare, most Americans go without ever learning how insurance actually works or what they're paying for with each bill.

Uninsured & Unaware was created to change that, teaching people across America how health insurance works so they can make informed decisions about coverage and care, in any state.

Without insurance, healthcare costs are out of reach for the average person. But even with coverage, signing up can feel daunting, finding a doctor can be confusing, and reading a medical bill can feel impossible. And for those who don't qualify for insurance at all, understanding their remaining options matters just as much.

U&U exists to close that gap. My name is Riya, and I started this organization out of the frustration of managing private health insurance plans for both my parents, along with my own path through Medicaid, a period uninsured as a 24-year-old woman with a chronic health condition, and eventually employment-based coverage. From my time as a pre-med student working at a rare disease nonprofit, to writing my college thesis, and now as a medical journalist and editor, I have seen firsthand that this problem extends beyond consumers understanding their insurance. Even doctors and healthcare professionals lack a foundation in it too, and that needs to change.

Any donation helps me continue this work as more than a passion project — it's a nationwide initiative. I hope that one day I will have enough support to commit to U&U full-time and grow this organization alongside more passionate individuals like me. Eventually, we will expand beyond health insurance to other types of coverage, so every American understands the value of what they are paying for and knows their options without being taken advantage of.