Access to Medical Care among the Hispanic Population of the Southwestern United States

TLDR

The study examines how minority status shapes Hispanic access to medical care in the United States and reviews literature that highlights key determinants of utilization. The authors analyze data from a national health‑care utilization survey that oversampled Hispanics in the southwestern United States. Results indicate that limited access among southwestern Hispanics is linked to lower income, education, and insurance coverage, underscoring the need for further research on these barriers.

Abstract

This paper considers the meaning of minority group status for the Hispanic population of the United States regarding access to medical care. A review of the relevant literature raises a number of questions concerning determinants of medical care utilization for Hispanics. They are explored using data from a national survey of health care utilization that oversampled the Hispanic population of the southwestern United States. Some indicators suggest that limited access to medical care for Hispanics in this region is associated with low levels of income, education, and health insurance coverage. Some implications of the findings for future research on Hispanics' access to medical care are presented.