In 1997, over 30 million working-age adults (ages 18-64) reported having unmet health needs. Typically, there is a gradient effect whereby individuals at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale have less access to a usual source of care, lower levels of utilization when health status is taken into account, and higher levels of unmet medical need. This paper uses the 1997 National Health Interview Survey to explore the relationship between access to health care and managed care (MC) for working-age adults with private insurance as well as those persons covered by Medicaid. MC increased the proportion of privately insured working-age adults with a usual source of medical care from 85 percent (Fee-for-Service) to 92 percent. Persons with private MC were also less likely to have unmet medical needs. For persons with Medicaid, managed care did not improve access to health care. This presentation will examine additional access variables which include medical service use and physical barriers to care, as well as differences in access patterns by selected sociodemographic variables.
Learning Objectives: Discuss the relationship between managed care and access to health care for working-age adults with Medicaid and private health insurance
Keywords: Access to Care, Managed Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.