Health care coverage important, but not enough

Health care coverage important, but not enough

The second annual Cover Michigan Survey shows that people who lack health coverage are more likely to seek medical treatment in costlier care settings and less likely to have regular, preventive care. The survey of 1,000 Michigan adults also reveals that simply having health coverage does not guarantee access to care. Among those with health coverage, those with Medicaid coverage reported the greatest difficulty gaining access to preferred primary care providers or specialists and were the most likely to delay seeking care when needed. The uninsured—who reported more difficulty accessing care when compared to the insured—appeared to be sicker or more acutely ill at the point they sought health care services. And among the uninsured, nearly one in three (32 percent) reported having been diagnosed with depression, compared to one in ten (11 percent) of the insured.