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Chartbook on Rural Health Care

Affordability

People With Health Insurance Premium and Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses Above 10% of Income

People under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income, by residence location, 2006-2012

People under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income, by residence location. Go to table below for details.

Residence Location 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Large Central Metro 14.3 14.0 16.2 14.7 15.1 15.6 16.4
Large Fringe Metro 15.5 14.9 16.2 16.8 17.1 17.4 16.6
Medium Metro 20.0 16.9 17.9 18.5 19.4 19.2 20.4
Small Metro 18.5 18.2 18.9 18.1 18.3 19.3 18.3
Micropolitan 22.1 21.8 20.3 21.4 18.4 17.4 18.6
Noncore 24.4 19.7 17.6 22.3 24.3 18.9 20.9
Total 17.5 16.3 17.3 17.4 17.6 17.5 17.9

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006-2012.
Note: For this measure, lower rates are better.

  • Importance: Health care expenses that exceed 10% of family income are a marker of financial burden for families. These numbers predate the Affordable Care Act.
  • Overall Rate: In 2012, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was 17.9%.
  • Trends:
    • From 2006 to 2012, there was no statistically significant change in the rate of people under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of their total family income.
    • From 2006 to 2012, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income improved for people living in micropolitan and noncore areas.
    • From 2006 to 2012, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income worsened for people living in large central metropolitan and large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • The disparity between residents of micropolitan and large fringe metropolitan areas narrowed.
  • Groups With Disparities:
    • In 2012, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family’s health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was worse for residents living in medium metropolitan and noncore areas compared with large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • In 5 of 7 years, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family’s health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was worse for residents living in noncore areas compared with large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • In 4 of 7 years, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family’s health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was worse for residents living in micropolitan areas compared with large fringe metropolitan areas.

People With Health Insurance Premium and Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses Above 10% of Income

People under age 65 whose family health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income, by residence location, stratified by race/ethnicity, 2012

People under age 65 whose family health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income, by residence location, stratified by race/ethnicity. Go to table below for details.

Residence Location Total Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black Hispanic
Large Central Metro 16.4 17.5 13.6 13.9
Large Fringe Metro 16.6 17.5 12.2 11.3
Medium Metro 20.4 20.9 18.6 18.0
Small Metro 18.3 19.3 17.7 11.7
Micropolitan 18.6 18.9 22.6 14.2
Noncore 20.9 22.0 21.5 13.6

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2012.
Note: For this measure, lower rates are better.

  • Overall Rate: In 2012, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family’s health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was worse for residents living in medium metropolitan and noncore areas compared with large fringe metropolitan areas.
  • Groups With Disparities:
    • In 2012, among non-Hispanic Black residents, the percentage of people under age 65 whose family health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was higher for those who live in medium metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas compared with those who live in large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • In 2012, among Hispanic residents, the percentage of people under 65 whose family health insurance premiums and out of pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income was higher for those who live in medium metropolitan areas compared with those who live in large fringe metropolitan areas.

People Unable To Get or Delayed in Getting Needed Care

Among people unable to get or delayed in getting needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medicines, those who cite financial or insurance reasons, United States, by residence location, 2002-2012

Among people unable to get or delayed in getting needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medicines, those who cite financial or insurance reasons, United States, by residence location. Go to table below for details

Residence Location 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total 61.2 63.7 63.8 65.6 65.2 64.6 65.2 69.2 71.4 68.7 69.3
Large Central Metro 61.1 61.8 64.7 66.8 66.4 61.8 62.7 70.3 71.3 69.4 72.4
Large Fringe Metro 55.8 60.8 58.7 61.9 63.6 60.4 61.8 68.4 66.8 68.7 68.2
Medium Metro 64.5 65.2 64.6 65.2 64.4 71.0 68.4 70.6 75.0 68.2 68.3
Small Metro 66.7 69.9 68.1 69.4 69.2 67.5 64.5 65.3 70.5 65.3 63.3
Micropolitan 59.5 65.1 64.9 65.8 65.6 65.9 70.4 68.9 71.1 67.1 72.8
Noncore 65.8 65.8 68.8 68.2 62.4 65.3 69.7 69.7 77.7 78.6 66.7

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002-2012.

  • Importance: Some Americans cannot afford all the care they need.
  • Overall Rate: In 2012, among people unable to get or delayed in getting needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medicines, 69.3% cited financial or insurance reasons. These numbers predate the Affordable Care Act.
  • Trends:
    • From 2002 to 2012, the percentage of people unable to get or delayed in getting needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medicines due to financial or insurance reasons worsened overall and for residents of large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
    • The disparity narrowed between residents of small metropolitan and large fringe metropolitan areas.

People Who Lack a Usual Source of Care for Financial or Insurance Reasons

People without a usual source of care who indicate a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care, by education, 2012

People without a usual source of care who indicate a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care, by education. Go to table below for details.

Residence Location Total <High School High School Grad Any College
Large Central Metro 25.9 36.6 28.1 20.9
Large Fringe Metro 19.8 33.7 23.2 14.2
Medium Metro 20.4 31.0 25.6 14.4
Small Metro 18.0 21.0 22.2 14.3
Micropolitan 16.2 23.0 15.1 13.6

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2012.
Note: For this measure, lower rates are better. Data do not meet the criteria for statistical reliability, data quality or confidentiality for Noncore areas.

  • Overall Rate: In 2012, the percentage of people without a usual source of care who indicated a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care was 21%.
  • Groups With Disparities:
    • In 2012, overall, the percentage of people without a usual source of care who indicated a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care was higher for people living in large central metropolitan areas compared with those living in large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • In 2012, among people who had less than a high school education, the percentage of people without a usual source of care who indicated a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care was lower for people living in small metropolitan and micropolitan areas compared with those living in large fringe metropolitan areas.
    • In 2012, among high school graduates and people with any college, the percentage of people without a usual source of care who indicated a financial or insurance reason for not having a source of care was higher for people living in large central metropolitan areas compared with those living in large fringe metropolitan areas.

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Page last reviewed August 2015
Page originally created September 2015

The information on this page is archived and provided for reference purposes only.

 
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