Are There Economic Barriers to Visiting a Doctor?

Despite concerns about inequalities in the provision of health care in the United States, and despite a considerable amount of previous research, we know little about the distribution of medical services across income or more broadly defined socioeconomic groups. This paper uses a unique data file from the Health Interview Survey to estimate the effect of income on whether an individual visits the doctor in a year, the number of doctor visits in a year, the likelihood that a visit is in an emergency room, and the likelihood that a visit is with a medical specialist. The results suggest that differences in income play a minor role in explaining why some people who need medical care get it while others do not. Low income children are more likely than high income children with the same health status to have visited a doctor in the last year, and low income children visit the doctor as often in a year as high income children with the same health status. Low income children are only slightly more likely than high income children with the same health status to visit a doctor in an emergency room, and they are somewhat less likely to see a pediatrician or other medical specialist. Low income adults are about as likely as high income adults with the same health status to visit a doctor at least once during the year, but low income adults visit the doctor more frequently than high income adults with the same health status during a year. Low income adults are about as likely as high income adults with the same health status to visit a doctor in an emergency room and to visit a specialist. To receive a copy of this paper, please e-mail the Harris School.