No Usual Source of Health Care Among Children

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These tables contain data on the percent of children without a usual source of health care. Data are from the National Health Interview Survey and are presented in three age groupings and by gender, race/ethnicity, poverty level, health insurance status, geography, and MSA status.

Table A. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
All children2 6.7 6.0 5.8 4.5 4.4 3.7 7.8 6.8 6.8

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table B. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by sex: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Sex 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Male 6.7 6.0 6.2 4.6 4.6 3.8 7.7 6.6 7.4
Female 6.8 6.0 5.4 4.3 4.2 3.6 8.0 6.9 6.3

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table C. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by race: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Race3 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
White only 5.8 5.2 5.8 4.1 4.0 4.0 6.7 5.8 6.8
Black or African American only 8.9 6.6 5.3 5.6 3.6 *2.7 10.4 8.0 6.6
American Indian or Alaska Native only *10.8 * *5.1 * * * * * *
Asian only 10.7 11.2 7.1 * * *2.8 14.4 13.2 9.5
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only * * * * * *
2 or more races 7.3 *4.9 *7.0 * *7.5 *5.4

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table D. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by Hispanic origin and race: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Hispanic origin and race3 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Hispanic or Latino 13.2 13.5 11.3 7.6 9.2 6.3 16.7 16.0 14.2
Not Hispanic or Latino 5.6 4.4 4.4 3.8 3.2 2.9 6.4 4.9 5.1
Not Hispanic or Latino, White only 4.5 3.4 4.0 3.4 2.7 3.1 5.0 3.7 4.5
Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American only 8.8 6.6 4.9 5.4 3.6 *2.2 10.4 8.0 6.3

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table E. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by percent of poverty level: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Percent of poverty level4 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Below 100% 12.1 11.7 9.1 8.0 8.2 5.6 14.7 13.7 11.3
100%-less than 200% 10.0 8.9 8.7 6.5 7.0 5.5 11.8 9.9 10.3
200%-less than 400% 4.8 4.4 4.6 2.5 2.7 2.5 5.8 5.2 5.6
400% or more 2.1 2.0 2.2 *1.6 *1.3 *1.4 2.4 2.3 2.5

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table F. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by Hispanic origin and race and percent of poverty level: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Hispanic origin and race and percent of poverty level3,4 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Hispanic or Latino, Below 100% 16.9 18.5 15.5 8.9 12.1 8.8 22.5 22.4 20.2
Hispanic or Latino, 100%-less than 200% 16.4 16.0 11.1 10.2 11.2 6.0 20.4 18.7 14.4
Hispanic or Latino, 200%-less than 400% 7.5 9.0 8.7 *3.9 *5.7 *4.9 9.4 10.9 10.4
Hispanic or Latino, 400% or more * *2.8 *4.7 * * * * *3.4 *6.3
Not Hispanic or Latino, White only, Below 100% 10.8 7.5 *5.3 9.8 * * 11.4 8.2 *6.0
Not Hispanic or Latino, White only, 100%-less than 200% 6.6 5.4 7.8 4.5 *4.8 *6.3 7.6 5.7 8.6
Not Hispanic or Latino, White only, 200%-less than 400% 3.9 3.2 3.8 *1.8 *2.0 *2.3 4.8 3.7 4.5
Not Hispanic or Latino, White only, 400% or more 1.8 1.6 1.7 *1.7 *1.1 * 1.9 1.8 1.9
Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American only, Below 100% 9.0 9.0 5.8 5.3 *4.0 * 11.1 11.5 7.8
Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American only, 100%-less than 200% 12.0 7.3 5.9 *7.4 *5.1 * 14.1 8.4 6.9
Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American only, 200%-less than 400% 7.4 5.0 *3.4 *5.2 * * 8.3 6.2 *4.6
Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American only, 400% or more *4.1 *2.4 *3.1 * * * *5.3 * *

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table G. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by health insurance status at the time of interview: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Health insurance status at the time of interview5 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Insured 3.6 3.3 3.2 2.6 2.2 2.2 4.2 3.8 3.7
Insured, Private 3.1 2.5 2.6 2.0 1.4 1.6 3.6 3.0 3.0
Insured, Medicaid 5.5 5.5 4.3 4.1 4.0 3.0 6.7 6.5 5.2
Uninsured 27.8 29.1 30.9 19.0 25.2 22.9 31.6 30.7 33.6

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table H. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by health insurance status prior to interview: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Health insurance status prior to interview5 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Insured continuously all 12 months 3.4 3.0 3.0 2.3 2.0 2.2 3.9 3.4 3.4
Uninsured for any period up to 12 months 15.4 16.7 14.9 10.8 13.8 10.2 18.3 18.4 17.1
Uninsured more than 12 months 32.1 36.5 38.0 23.4 32.1 32.0 35.1 38.1 39.6

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table I. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by percent of poverty level and health insurance status prior to interview: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Percent of poverty level and health insurance status prior to interview4,5 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Below 100%, Insured continuously all 12 months 5.1 5.0 4.5 4.0 *2.7 3.1 5.9 6.4 5.5
Below 100%, Uninsured for any period up to 12 months 20.6 21.2 16.8 15.7 18.5 *12.9 23.7 23.0 19.5
Below 100%, Uninsured more than 12 months 38.9 46.2 45.6 30.7 42.5 *41.6 41.8 47.6 46.6
100%-less than 200%, Insured continuously all 12 months 4.6 4.0 4.0 3.2 3.3 3.8 5.4 4.4 4.1
100%-less than 200%, Uninsured for any period up to 12 months 15.9 18.7 17.4 11.1 *15.8 *8.5 19.2 20.2 21.1
100%-less than 200%, Uninsured more than 12 months 30.0 33.8 37.1 20.1 29.9 *27.5 33.4 35.3 39.9
200%-less than 400%, Insured continuously all 12 months 3.1 2.6 2.7 *1.4 1.5 *1.4 3.9 3.2 3.3
200%-less than 400%, Uninsured for any period up to 12 months 10.7 13.0 12.6 * *8.8 * 13.4 15.5 13.6
200%-less than 400%, Uninsured more than 12 months 26.8 28.3 31.8 * * *29.0 29.9 31.4 32.5
400% or more, Insured continuously all 12 months 1.8 1.6 1.7 *1.4 *1.1 * 1.9 1.9 2.1
400% or more, Uninsured for any period up to 12 months *7.5 *7.9 * * * * * * *
400% or more, Uninsured more than 12 months * *22.8 *28.3 * * * *19.2 *23.0 *

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table J. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by geographic region: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Geographic region 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Northeast 3.1 2.4 2.5 *2.5 *2.4 *2.1 3.5 2.4 2.7
Midwest 4.6 4.2 4.1 4.0 3.8 *2.7 4.9 4.4 4.8
South 8.4 7.3 7.3 5.3 4.6 4.5 9.9 8.7 8.7
West 9.8 8.8 7.6 5.5 6.3 4.5 12.0 10.1 9.2

See footnotes at end of Table K.

Table K. No usual source of health care among children under 18 years of age, by location of residence: United States, average annual 1997-1998, 2001-2002, and 2006-2007

(Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)

Under 18 years Under 6 years 6-17 years
Location of residence 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007 1997-1998 2001-2002 2006-2007
Percent of children without a usual source of health care1
Within MSA6 6.8 6.1 5.6 4.4 4.5 3.5 8.0 6.9 6.7
Outside MSA6 6.4 5.7 6.8 4.7 3.9 *5.0 7.2 6.5 7.6

* Estimates are considered unreliable. Data preceded by an asterisk have a relative standard error (RSE) of 20%-30%. Data not shown have an RSE of greater than 30%.

— Data not available.

1 Persons who report the emergency department as the place of their usual source of care are defined as having no usual source of care.

2 Includes all other races not shown separately and unknown health insurance status.

3 The race groups, white, black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 2 or more races, include persons of Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Starting with 1999 data, race-specific estimates are tabulated according to the 1997 Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity and are not strictly comparable with estimates for earlier years. The five single-race categories plus multiple-race categories shown in the table conform to the 1997 Standards. Starting with 1999 data, race-specific estimates are for persons who reported only one racial group; the category 2 or more races includes persons who reported more than one racial group. Prior to 1999, data were tabulated according to the 1977 Standards with four racial groups and the Asian only category included Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Estimates for single-race categories prior to 1999 included persons who reported one race or, if they reported more than one race, identified one race as best representing their race. Starting with 2003 data, race responses of other race and unspecified multiple race were treated as missing, and then race was imputed if these were the only race responses. Almost all persons with a race response of other race were of Hispanic origin.

4 Percent of poverty level is based on family income and family size and composition using U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds. Missing family income data were imputed for 14% of children in 1993-1996, 21%-25% in 1997-1998, and 27%-29% in 1999-2007.

5 Health insurance categories are mutually exclusive. Persons who reported both Medicaid and private coverage are classified as having private coverage. Medicaid includes other public assistance through 1996. Starting with 1997 data, state-sponsored health plan coverage is included as Medicaid coverage. Starting with 1999 data, coverage by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is included as Medicaid coverage. In addition to private and Medicaid, the insured category also includes military, other government, and Medicare coverage. Persons not covered by private insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, public assistance (through 1996), state-sponsored or other government-sponsored health plans (starting in 1997), Medicare, or military plans are considered to have no health insurance coverage. Persons with only Indian Health Service coverage are considered to have no health insurance coverage. Health insurance status was unknown for 8%-9% of children in 1993-1996 and about 1% in 1997-2007.

6 MSA is metropolitan statistical area. Starting with 2005-2006 data, MSA status is determined using 2000 census data and the 2000 standards for defining MSAs.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, family core and sample child questionnaires.

These estimates may be revised in the future as further analyses are completed.