全球智库信息集成服务系统

People who lack a regular source of health care may not receive services when they need them, leading to missed diagnoses, untreated conditions, and adverse health outcomes. Maintaining regular contact with a health services provider can be difficult for low-income people, who are less likely to have health insurance coverage. People without insurance often rely on hospital emergency rooms, which can raise overall costs and lessen continuity of care. To determine the percentage of children and nonelderly adults with no usual source of health care, adults were asked whether they and their children had a regular place or provider of care and where they received care.