The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) today released comprehensive data on access to health insurance coverage and care in the Commonwealth. Access to Health Care in Massachusetts: Estimates from the 2008 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey presents updated findings on access to care and is based on estimates from the 2008 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey. The Division also released Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care in Massachusetts: Detailed Tabulations Based on the 2008 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey. This includes fifty detailed tables grouped by five categories: All Massachusetts Residents, Children, Non-elderly Adults, Elderly Adults, and Region. In addition, the Division has updated the December 2008 report on Health Insurance Coverage so that all subpopulation estimates reflect final estimate calculations.
The survey data provide the detailed breakdowns that make up the record low overall uninsurance rate of 2.6%. For children, the uninsurance rate is a remarkably even lower 1.2%. The statistics reflect the ongoing success of health reform in expanding coverage.
Yet while Massachusetts residents collectively have high rates of insurance coverage and recent doctor visits, disparities based on income, race/ethnicity and disability persist in insurance coverage, health status, unmet health needs due to costs, difficulty paying medical bills or obtaining care and use of the emergency room. Among the key findings uncovered by the survey are:
- In the 12 months prior to the survey, most residents (88%) had at least one doctor visit, and 78% had a preventive care visit.
- The disabled and those in fair or poor health were most likely to report difficulties obtaining health care.
- Among children and non-elderly adults, those in families with incomes between 150-299% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were more likely than any other income groups to forgo necessary care due to cost (19% and 40% for children and adults, respectively).
- 7.2% of Hispanic residents were uninsured, a rate more than twice that of non-Hispanic residents (less than 3%).
Survey results also indicated that 8 out of 10 Massachusetts residents were aware of the individual mandate and nearly 3 out of 4 households supported health reform in 2008. All of the information is available on DHCFP’s website.
Catherine Hammons
