"Lack of health insurance and gaps in coverage can have serious health consequences," said Karen Davis, president of The Commonwealth Fund. "Hispanics are at high risk of failing to receive medical care that can prevent lifelong--or even life-threatening--health problems."
Insurance, Access, and Quality of Care Among Hispanic Populations: The Commonwealth Fund 2003 Chartpack, by Michelle M. Doty, senior analyst at The Commonwealth Fund, provides new analyses of recent surveys and draws from recent reports published by The Commonwealth Fund. Other new findings include:
- High rates of lack of insurance and unstable coverage are especially likely to affect Hispanic children in low-income families: nearly half (44%) were uninsured or had a time uninsured during the year, compared with one-third (33%) of U.S. children in low-income families.
- Hispanics ages 50-64 are also as high risk for unstable coverage: 61% were uninsured all year or had a gap in coverage, compared with 41% of that age group in the total population.
- One quarter of Hispanics ages 50-64 went without needed care (did not fill a prescription or skipped a needed medical test, treatment or follow-up) due to costs.
"Lack of insurance, unstable coverage, language barriers, and low income all contribute to the growing health care crisis among Hispanics," said Doty.