Minority Americans' 'Health Care Disconnect'
<p>Hispanic and African American working-age adults face gaps in health insurance coverage, problems accessing care, and medical debt at higher rates than their white counterparts, Commonwealth Fund researchers find.<br><br>According to the new analysis, <a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=23410&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Fpublications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D386220%26%23doc386220">Health Care Disconnect: Gaps in Coverage and Care for Minority Adults,</a> 62 percent of Hispanics ages 19 to 64--an estimated 15 million people--were uninsured at some point during the year, more than three times the rate for white adults in that age range (20%). Working-age African-Americans also fared poorly compared with whites: one-third (33%) were uninsured or experienced a gap in their coverage during the year.<br><br>The analysis found that disparities in coverage persisted across income levels.<br><br>Study authors Michelle M. Doty, Ph.D., and Alyssa Holmgren, M.P.A., note that insurance is crucial to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in access to care. But they add that policies that promote continuity in patients' relationships with health care providers are also needed to improve health care access and quality for minority Americans.<br><br>To hear an overview of the study's findings, view the <a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=23410&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Fpublications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D386220%26%23doc386220">video introduction.</a></p>
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletters/ealerts/2006/aug/minority-americans-health-care-disconnect