Commonwealth Fund: Hispanics Face High Rates of Unstable Health Care Coverage, Low Rates of Preventive Care

10/16/2003

From: Mary Mahon, 212-606-3853, 917-225-2314 (cell), mm@cmwf.org, or Bill Byrne, 212-606-3826, bkb@cmwf.org, both of The Commonwealth Fund

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 -- Nearly half (45 percent) of Hispanics under age 65 and two-thirds (65 percent) of working-age Hispanics with low incomes were uninsured for all or part of the year in 2000, according to a new analysis by The Commonwealth Fund. Uninsured Hispanics have low rates of some preventive health services: just 39 percent of uninsured Hispanic adults with diabetes had annual foot exams (needed for early identification of problems that could lead to amputation) compared with 67 percent of Hispanics with insurance. Sixteen percent of uninsured Hispanic men ages 40-64 received prostate exams, compared with 40 percent of insured Hispanic men in that age group.

"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 percent) were uninsured or had a time uninsured during the year, compared with one-third (33 percent) of U.S. children in low-income families.

-- Hispanics ages 50-64 are also as high risk for unstable coverage: 61 percent were uninsured all year or had a gap in coverage, compared with 41 percent 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.

Chart 1: Among Low-Income Children and Nonelderly Adults, Uninsured Rates Are Highest for Hispanics -- Percent of Population with Income Below 200 percent Poverty Uninsured All or Part Year, 2000

Race.......Uninsured All Year......Uninsured Part Year.......Total
Low-Income Children, Ages 0-18
Total.............12....................21.....................33
 
White..............9....................22.....................31
African American..11....................15.....................26
 
Hispanic..........20....................24.....................44
Low-Income Adults, Ages 19-64
Total.............21....................30.....................51
 
White.............25....................23.....................48
African American..31....................18.....................49
 
Hispanic..........45....................20.....................65
   Source: The Commonwealth Fund and Columbia University analysis of MEPS 2000.
   Chart 2: Insurance Matters for Management of Diabetes: Care of Diabetic Adults by Race/Ethnicity and Insurance
   -- Percent of Diabetic Adults Ages 18-64 with Eye or Foot Exam in Past Year, 2001
Race..............Uninsured............Insured
Eye Exam in Past Year
Total................40....................70
White................40....................69
African American.....47....................74
Hispanic.............50....................72
Foot Exam in Past Year
Total................51....................68
White................54....................67
African American.....62....................74
Hispanic.............39....................67
   Source: Analysis of BRFSS 2001 for The Commonwealth Fund by J.Z. Ayarian, J.S. Weismann, A.M. Zaslavsky, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School.

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The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation supporting independent research on health and social issues. To read or download publications, visit its Web site at http://www.cmwf.org.