Usual Source of Care

In 2007–2009, 89.1 percent of women reported having a usual source of care, compared to 79.5 percent of men. Women who have a usual source of care (a place they usually go when they are sick, such as a physician’s office or health center) are more likely to receive preventive care,¹ experience fewer delays in obtaining care,² and receive higher quality care.²

Overall, non-Hispanic White women were most likely to report a usual source of care (91.1 percent), while Hispanic women were least likely to do so (79.8 percent). The proportion of women of different races and ethnicities who have a usual source of care varied with health insurance status. Among women with private or public insurance, those reporting a usual source of care generally exceeded 90 percent for all racial and ethnic groups. Women lacking health insurance were least likely to have a usual source of care (57.4 percent), with significant variation by race and ethnicity. Among women without health insurance, non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black women were most likely to report a usual source of care (60.6 percent), while non-Hispanic women of multiple races and non-Hispanic Asian women were least likely to do so (48.2 and 46.9 percent, respectively).

1 DeVoe JE, Fryer GE, Phillips R, Green LA. Receipt of Preventive Care Among Adults: Insurance Status and Usual Source of Care. AJPH. 2003;93(5):786-791.
2 Williams C. From Coverage to Care: Exploring the Links Between Health Insurance, a Usual Source of Care, and Access. The Synthesis Project, Issue 1: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2002. Accessed 02/18/11.

This image is described in the Data section.