Access to Care

Visits to Health Providers

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

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

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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