HEALTHCARE ACCESS Access to comprehensive quality health care services is important for promoting and maintaining health, preventing and managing disease, reducing unnecessary disability and premature death, and achieving health equity for all Americans. Health insurance coverage helps patients enter the health care system whereas a lack of adequate health insurance coverage makes it difficult for people to get the health care they need. When families with inadequate health insurance do get care they need, they can be burdened with large medical bills. According to Healthy People 2020, uninsured people are more likely to have a poor health status, are less likely to receive medical care, and are more likely to die prematurely. Through California’s adoption of the ACA, the percentage of statewide population without health insurance has been greatly reduced to approximately 5%. Orange County generally mirrors enrollment levels observed throughout the state but is slightly more affluent and has 5% more employer-based coverage, 2% more self-pay (direct-purchase coverage), and 4% less Medicaid/Medi-Cal when compared to the rest of the state.
Health Insurance Coverage 2013-2017 ACS Population <19
60% 50%
49% 44% 38% 34%
40%
30% 20% 8% 6%
10%
0% 1%
0% 0%
4% 5%
5% 5%
2+ Types of Health Insurance
No Health Insurance Coverage
0% Employer-Based Direct-Purchase Medicare Health Ins Only Health Ins Only Coverage Only
Medicaid Coverage Only
OC
TRICARE/VA
CA
Source: Esri, 2019
Annual health care spending per household in Orange County is approximately 10% higher than the state average at $7,474 per household compared to $6,705 at the state level. Health Insurance Premium spending is also 10% higher, with an average household health insurance premium of $4,450 or $370 per month.
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