Access to health care services is an important component of health care coverage. Access to services for the low-income population is closely linked to insurance coverage but is also affected by the availability and financing of the safety net, the extent of the provider network, and provider payment rates (Table 10).
- Nationally, just over 10 percent of the population lives in a primary care shortage area. States in the South and West are more likely to have primary care shortages than those in the Northeast.
- Rates of unmet need (defined as not having seen a doctor due to cost) average 14.9% nationally, but range from 6% in North Dakota to almost 20% in Mississippi and Texas. States in the South disproportionately report higher rates of unmet need.
- Medicaid beneficiaries are predominantly enrolled in managed care plans. In 21 states, over 80 percent of the Medicaid population is in managed care.
- Comparing Medicaid-to-Medicare fee-for-service rates across states shows that Medicaid often pays providers lower rates than Medicare. Medicaid payments range from 37% of what Medicare pays in New Jersey to 143% of Medicare fees in Wyoming.
View related interactive table on statehealthfacts.org
