Health Services Financing and Utilization

timing of physician visits

In 2003, 12.2 percent of children under 18 years of age had not seen a physician or other health care professional in the previous year (not including overnight hospitalization, trips to the emergency room, home visits, or dental visits). Older children were more likely than younger children to go without a physician visit. Nearly 16 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds had not had a physician visit in the previous year, compared to only 5.8 percent of children under 5 years of age.

Across all age groups, Hispanic children were the least likely to have seen a physician in the prior year; non-Hispanic White children were most likely to have seen a physician, except among 10- to 14-year-olds where non-Hispanic Black children were the most likely. At all ages, Hispanic children were at least 45 percent more likely than non-Hispanic White children to have had no physician visits.

> Bar Chart: Children Reported Not to Have Seen a Physician or Other Health Professional in the Past 12 Months, by Age and Race/Ethnicity: 2003