Survey: Health Care Access Deteriorates

Even U.S. adults who have health insurance may be having a harder time getting medical and dental care.

Genevieve Kenney and other researchers at the Urban Institute, Washington, are reporting that finding in a study released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, N.J.

The researchers conducted in connection with efforts to track the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) and other efforts to change the U.S. health care system.

The researchers conducted the study using federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data, and the results could indicate that poor underwriting results might lie ahead for life insurers, disability insurers, long-term care insurers that are depending on steady improvements in the health of the American people to help claims experience.

The researchers found that, overall, the percentage of U.S. adults ages 19 to 64 who reported having any unmet medical need due to cost increased to 18.7% in 2010, from 12.7% in 2000.

The percentage who had received routine checkups fell to 63.2%, from 68.3%, and the percentage who had visited a dentist fell to 65.2%, from 69.1%.