QuickStats: Percentage* of Adults Aged 18–64 Years Who Did Not Get or Delayed Medical Care in the Past Year Because of Cost,† by Type of Locality§ — National Health Interview Survey, 2012–2014¶

Weekly

November 13, 2015 / 64(44);1259

The figure above is a bar chart showing that during 2012-2014, the percentage of adults aged 18-64 years who did not get or who delayed medical care during the last 12 months because of cost was higher in nonmetropolitan counties (14.6%) compared with metropolitan counties (10.6%-13.0%). Among adults residing in metropolitan counties, those in large fringe metropolitan counties were less likely to report not getting or delaying medical care (10.6%) compared to those in large central metropolitan counties (12.1%), medium metropolitan counties (12.6%), and small metropolitan counties (13.0%).

* With 95% confidence interval.

† Based on family member's responses to the question "During the past 12 months, was there any time when a person needed medical care, but did not get it because the person couldn't afford it?" and to a question asking if, during the past 12 months, the person delayed seeking or obtaining medical care because of worry about the cost.

§ Counties were classified into urbanization levels based on a classification scheme developed by NCHS that considers metropolitan/nonmetropolitan status, population, and other factors.

¶ Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population, and are derived from the National Health Interview Survey family core questionnaire.

During 2012–2014, the percentage of adults aged 18–64 years who did not get or who delayed medical care during the last 12 months because of cost was higher in nonmetropolitan counties (14.6%) compared with metropolitan counties (10.6%–13.0%). Among adults residing in metropolitan counties, those in large fringe metropolitan counties were less likely to report not getting or delaying medical care (10.6%) compared to those in large central metropolitan counties (12.1%), medium metropolitan counties (12.6%), and small metropolitan counties (13.0%).

Sources: National Health Interview Survey. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. NCHS urban-rural classification scheme for counties. Available athttp://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/sr02_154.pdf

Reported by: Deborah D. Ingram, PhD, ddingram@cdc.gov, 301-458-4733; Shilpa Bengeri.

Alternate Text: The figure above is a bar chart showing that during 2012-2014, the percentage of adults aged 18-64 years who did not get or who delayed medical care during the last 12 months because of cost was higher in nonmetropolitan counties (14.6%) compared with metropolitan counties (10.6%-13.0%). Among adults residing in metropolitan counties, those in large fringe metropolitan counties were less likely to report not getting or delaying medical care (10.6%) compared to those in large central metropolitan counties (12.1%), medium metropolitan counties (12.6%), and small metropolitan counties (13.0%).