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Access to Care

Visits to Health Providers

Figure 6. Percent of adults with no visits by chronic condition/diabetes and insurance status,2003-2006 This bar graph shows the percentage of adults ages 25-54 and 55-64 with a chronic disease or diabetes who had no visits to a health provider during the year, by health insurance status. Ages 25-54, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 9% Insured part year: 14.0% Uninsured full year: 27.7% Ages 55-64, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 5% Insured part year: 8.2% Uninsured full year: 18.8% Ages 25-54, diabetes: Insured full year: 6.3% Insured part year: 6.1% Uninsured full year: 19.2% Ages 55-64, diabetes: Insured full year: 2.7% Insured part year: 8.2% Uninsured full year: 7.8%.

Figure 7. Percent of adults with no medical visits by self-reported health status by insurance status, 2003-2006. This bar graph shows the percentage of respondents 25-54 and 55-64 in two health categories who had no visits to a health provider during the year, by health insurance status. Ages 25-54, excellent/very good/good health: Insured full year: 24% Insured part year: 34.8% Uninsured full year: 57.2% Ages 25-54, fair/poor health: Insured full year: 8% Insured part year: 13.2% Uninsured full year: 32.7% Ages 55-64, excellent/very good/good health: Insured full year: 13.1% Insured part year: 22.4% Uninsured full year: 41.5% Ages 55-64, fair/poor health: Insured full year: 4.5% Insured part year: 9.7% Uninsured full year: 24.9%.

Additional detail available in Appendix Tables A2 and A3.

  • Full-year uninsured adults, overall (Appendix Table A2), were less likely to visit a health provider in 2006 than full-year insured adults, regardless of age.
  • This is also true for those with at least one chronic health condition, those with diabetes, and those in fair/poor health, who have a greater need for medical care.
  • However, uninsured near-elderly adults were more likely to visit a health provider than younger adults, including those with a chronic condition, diabetes or who are in fair/poor health (Figures 6 and 7).
  • Uninsured near-elderly adults in fair or poor health were more likely to visit a provider than uninsured healthier adults. They were also more likely to visit a provider than younger adults in fair or poor health.

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Number of Visits

Figure 8. Average visits by adults with visits and any chronic condition and diabetes by insurance status, 2003-2006 This bar graph shows the average number of visits per adult to a medical provider per year (for people with any visits) for adults ages 25-54 and 55-64 with a chronic disease or diabetes, by insurance status. Ages 25-54, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 10 Insured part year: 7.9 Uninsured full year: 6.8 Ages 55-64, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 12 Insured part year: 9.7 Uninsured full year: 7.1 Ages 25-54, diabetes: Insured full year: 13.5 Insured part year: 9.7 Uninsured full year: 6.5 Ages 55-64, diabetes: Insured full year: 14.7 Insured part year: 9.8 Uninsured full year: 8.4.

Additional detail available in Appendix Tables A2 and A3.

  • Full-year uninsured adults, overall (Appendix Table A2), who visited a medical provider had fewer visits than full-year insured adults, regardless of age. Younger full-year uninsured adults had fewer visits than near-elderly uninsured adults.
  • Adults who lacked coverage the entire year and who had at least one chronic health condition or diabetes also had fewer visits than their full-year insured counterparts (Figure 8).
  • Younger adults with a chronic condition who were insured either for the full year or for part of the year had fewer visits than their near-elderly counterparts.

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Delays in Medical Care

Figure 9. Percent of adults with any chronic condition and diabetes reporting a medical delay by insurance status, 2003–2006 This bar graph shows the percentage of adults 25-54 and 55-64 with a chronic disease or diabetes who reported a medical delay during the year, by insurance status. Ages 25-54, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 6% Insured part year: 18.8% Uninsured full year: 22.4% Ages 55-64, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 6% Insured part year: 16.1% Uninsured full ear: 18.0% Ages 25-54, diabetes: Insured full year: 8.2% Insured part year: 27.8% Uninsured full year: 21.9% Ages 55-64, diabetes: Insured full year: 7.4% Insured part year: 17.7% Uninsured full year: 16.8%.

Figure 10. Percent of adults with any chronic condition/hypertension reporting a prescription drug delay by insurance status, 2003 to 2006 This bar graph shows the percentage of adults ages 25-54 and 55-64 with a chronic disease or hypertension reporting a prescription drug delay during the year, by insurance status. Ages 25-54, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 6% Insured part year: 14.7% Uninsured full year: 16.5% Ages 55-64, any chronic condition: Insured full year: 6% Insured part year: 14.3% Uninsured full year: 12.8% Ages 25-54, hypertension: Insured full year: 7.0% Insured part year: 19.4% Uninsured full year: 20.8% Ages 55-64, hypertension: Insured full year: 6.6% Insured part year: 12.4% Uninsured full year: 13.5%.

Additional detail available in Appendix Tables A2 and A3.

  • Full-year uninsured adults, overall (Appendix Table A3), were more likely to report a delay in receiving medical care and in obtaining prescription drugs than full-year insured adults, regardless of age.
  • Near-elderly adults with a chronic condition who were uninsured throughout 2006 were less likely to report a delay in medical care and in obtaining prescription drugs than their younger counterparts (Figures 9 and 10).
  • Near-elderly individuals with hypertension who lacked insurance the whole year, were less likely to experience prescription drug delays than their younger counterparts.

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