ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

This indicator reports the number and percentage of children 18 years old and under1 who are uninsured; the number and percentage who do not have a usual source of care; and those who experienced delayed care or did not receive medical care or prescription medications.

Why is this indicator important?

Improving health care access for all children helps to improve prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of health problems. Children with health insurance are more likely to get timely prescription medications and medical or mental health care when needed; are more likely to get preventive care (including immunizations, dental care and vision screenings); and, overall, have better health outcomes.

Findings

• In 2017, 3.3% of children were uninsured, representing a drop in uninsured rates by 69.7% since 2008 (10.9%).

• Orange County has a similar rate of uninsured children (3.3%) compared to California (3.1%) and for the fourth consecutive year this is a lower rate than the United States (5.0% in 2017).

• While Hispanic children continue to have the highest uninsured rates, in 2017 uninsured rates among Asian children increased to equal that of Hispanic children (both 3.9%). The increase among Asian children was most pronounced among those 0 to 5 years, where 5.2% were uninsured, compared to 1.8% in 2016. White (2.5%) and Other races (1.5%) continue to have the lowest rates of uninsured children under 19 years in 2017.

• Uninsured percentages of very young children (0 to 5 years old) dropped by 68.5%, from 8.9% in 2009 to 2.8% in 2017, but increased between 2016 (1.9%) and 2017 (2.8%). Similarly, rates of uninsured six to 17-year-olds dropped by two-thirds, from 11.2% in 2009 to 3.6% in 2017.

• In addition, the California Health Interview Survey (pooled estimate for 2013 through 2017) reveals:

– An estimated 10.4% Orange County children annually did not have a usual source of care to go to when they were sick or needed health advice.

– Approximately 3.9% of Orange County children experienced a delay or lack of medical care and 2.9% experienced a delay or lack of needed prescription medications.

– Most Orange County children who had access to a usual source of care went to a doctor’s office (69.0%), while 19.9% usually went to a clinic or community hospital. It is estimated that many children who regularly visited an Emergency Department, urgent care center or other location were those without a usual source of care (10.4%).

Note: Increases in the percent of uninsured children in 2017 may be attributable to change in reported age group to include children 18 years old.