The U.S. health care divide: disparities in primary care experiences by income : findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2004 International Health Policy Survey
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Author(s):
- Huynh, Phuong Trang, author Schoen, Cathy, author Osborn, Robin, author Holmgren, Alyssa L., author
- Contributor(s):
- Commonwealth Fund, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [New York, N.Y.] : Commonwealth Fund, April 2006
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Delivery of Health Care -- statistics & numerical data Health Services Accessibility -- statistics & numerical data Income Australia Canada United Kingdom New Zealand United States
- Genre(s):
- Comparative Study Technical Report
- Abstract:
- In analyzing findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2004 International Health Policy Survey, which studied adults in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, this report finds a wide health care divide by income. There is health care gap not only separating the U.S. from the other four countries, but also one standing between lower-income and higher-income Americans. Among the countries surveyed, the U.S. stands out for income-based disparities in patient experiences, with below-average-income U.S. adults reporting the worst experiences--compared with their counterparts in the other four countries--on most measures of primary care access, coordination, and doctor-patient relationships. Although a lack of health insurance intensified the disparities, with uninsured U.S. adults often forgoing needed care, insurance coverage does not level the playing field. Even when insured, below-average-income Americans under the age of 65 were more likely to report access problems and delays than insured, above-average-income adults.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (xii, 36 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101273563 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101273563