Access to Care

Summarizes the number of uninsured individuals in rural America, who they are, and the barriers to coverage they experience.Fact Sheet

New and recent publications on immigrant health policy explore some of the complex problems the country faces in expanding health coverage to immigrants and provide basic statistics and facts on the current status of their health care. News Release: Recent Immigrants Have Had Little Impact on the Growth in America's…

The second in a series of reports on implementation issues and challenges in the first year of S-CHIP finds that the five study states have not focused special attention on the unique service needs of this age group, such as risk assessment and counseling, reproductive and sexual health services, and…

Diane Rowland, executive director of the Commission, testified to the Senate Committee on Finance about the low-income uninsured. The testimony provides a comprehensive description and analysis of the population and discusses the challenges of providing them health coverage. Please note: the video is no longer available.  If you have an urgent…

A background report that assesses how various factors influence changes in the health care system for immigrants in four urban areas with large immigrant populations (Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Miami.)Background Paper

An article in the January/February 2001 issue of Health Affairs by Judith Feder, Larry Levitt, Ellen O’Brien, and Diane Rowland assesses how best to expand health insurance coverage for the low-income uninsured. The article concludes that despite flaws in existing public programs, which can and should be remedied, strengthening programs like Medicaid…

Low-income women’s high rate of health problems and limited economic resources make access to health care and adequate health insurance coverage particularly important. Health coverage, whether through the private sector or publicly through Medicaid, has been demonstrated to improve access to care for low-income women. However, obtaining coverage is not…

Access to health coverage is a challenge for millions of low-income women. Because they are more likely to be low-wage workers and work in industries that don't offer benefits, access to job-based coverage is often problematic. Avenues for assistance are available to some through Medicaid. However, despite the program s…

A study of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri, and Utah CHIP programs show that the states have features in place for special needs children, but problems of provider availability and service authorization did sometimes occur. This is the first in a series of reports on implementation issues and challenges in the…

Gynecological services are vital for women throughout their lifetimes. Pap smears, breast exams, counseling, and contraceptive care are important preventive services, but women often do not get these at levels recommended by experts. This fact sheet summarizes coverage of gynecological care and contraceptives. It focuses on women’s use of services,…