Group differences in healthcare access among people with disabilities

Background and Importance

People with disabilities in the U.S. report more unmet healthcare needs and receive fewer clinical preventive services than the general population. Yet, access to quality and timely healthcare is an established leading indicator of population health. People with disabilities from traditionally underserved groups may experience even greater barriers to healthcare. The present study examined healthcare access disparities among people with disabilities.

Methods

Data were collected via an online survey of adults with disabilities in the U.S. The online survey included assessments of unmet healthcare needs and common barriers to needed care. A total of 943 individuals participated in the study.

Results

People with disabilities of minority race or ethnicity were significantly more likely than White non-Hispanic people to say they had not gotten needed health care in the past year. Women were significantly more likely than men to indicate that there was a time in the past year when they needed healthcare but did not get it. Likewise, people with multiple disabilities were significantly more likely to have had unmet healthcare needs than people with only one type of disability. The most common barriers to accessing healthcare included cost, limited insurance, and lack of providers. However, there were differences between the groups in ranking these and other barriers.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that certain groups of people with disabilities may be disproportionately lacking in needed healthcare services. Efforts to reduce disability-related disparities should pay particular attention to the barriers faced by minorities, women, and individuals with multiple disabilities.