Although the United States is rich and has one of the most technologically advanced health care systems in the world, a sizeable proportion of its citizens is unable to access health care when needed. The objective of this paper is to investigate the socioeconomic and proximate determinants of unrealized access to health care among adults.
Data from the 1994 National Health Interview Survey were used for the analysis. Unrealized access was defined as inability to access needed health care service in the preceding 12 months. The logistic regression technique was used to assess the effects of the determinants of this unrealized access to health care.
Cost was the predominant reason provided for unrealized access. The multivariate regression model shows that income, health status, education, employment status, marital status and sex of respondents were important predictors of access. The risk of having an unmet need decreases as income increases irrespective of whatever variable is controlled. Education effects operated mainly through its effect on health status. Men had a significantly lower risk of unrealized access to care, which did not disappear in any of the models that we fitted. Race did not become statistically significant until the effect of income is removed.
The paper concluded that the cost is one of the most important barriers to needed health care among adults in the US.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant should be able to (a) identify at least three statistically significant determinants of unrealized access to needed care among US adults, and (b) appreciate the importance of the cost barrier in access to needed health care
Keywords: Access to Health 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.