Access to Medical Care and Insurance Coverage

Several different issues relating to access to health care were evaluated in this study. About 75% of uninsured children had a regular source of medical care compared to over 90% of both children with Medicaid as well as privately insured children. Uninsured children were least likely to have needed medical care in the previous year but most likely to have unmet need among those needing care. They used the emergency room more frequently than those with private insurance but less frequently than children with Medicaid. Similarly they were more likely to have had a preventive health visit in the previous 12 months than children in Medicaid (65% vs 53%) but almost one in eight (12%) did not have a preventive visit in over 2 years. As with medical care, uninsured children were least likely to have needed prescription medication but most likely to have had unmet need for prescription drugs.