Data Guides: Barriers and Costs of Health Care

About

  • Data from Disability & Health Data System (DHDS) come from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
  • The BRFSS is a telephone interview with questions on a variety of health risks and behaviors, chronic conditions, and demographics.
  • Below are the specific questions and response categories about the barriers and costs of health care.
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Could not see a doctor due to cost in past 12 months

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) respondents were asked, "Was there a time in the past 12 months when you needed to see a doctor but could not because you could not afford it?" Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No.

Could not see a doctor due to cost in past 12 months data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Related Indicators:

  • Routine check-up in past year
  • Have a personal doctor
  • Have health care coverage

Defined based on:

  • Pearson WS, Ahluwalia IB, Ford ES, Mokdad AH. Language preference as a predictor of access to and use of healthcare services among Hispanics in the U.S. Ethn Dis. 2008;18:93–7.

Have a personal doctor

BRFSS respondents were asked, "Do you have one person (or a group of doctors) that you think of as your personal health care provider?" Responses were grouped into three categories:

  • Yes, only one
  • More than one
  • No

Have a personal doctor data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Related Indicators:

  • Routine check-up in past year
  • Could not see a doctor due to cost in past 12 months
  • Have health care coverage

Defined based on:

  • Pearson WS, Ahluwalia IB, Ford ES, Mokdad AH. Language preference as a predictor of access to and use of healthcare services among Hispanics in the U.S. Ethn Dis. 2008;18:93–7.

Have health care coverage

BRFSS respondents were asked, "What is the current primary source of your health insurance?" Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No. Respondents were defined as Yes if, at the time of the survey, they reported receiving coverage through

  1. A plan purchased through an employer or union (including plans purchased through another person's employer)
  2. A private non-governmental plan that you or another family member buys on your own
  3. Medicare
  4. Medigap
  5. Medicaid
  6. Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  7. Military-related health care: TRICARE (CHAMPUS) / VA health care / CHAMP-VA
  8. Indian Health Service
  9. State-sponsored health plan
  10. Other government program

Respondents who, at the time of the survey, reported No coverage of any type were defined as No.

Have health care coverage data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Related Indicators:

  • Routine check-up in past year
  • Could not see a doctor due to cost in past 12 months
  • Have a personal doctor

Defined based on:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among states and selected local areas―Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), United States, 2006. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2008;57(No. SS-7):2–3, 11.