Increasing Health Coverage Within Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities: What's the problem and what can you do about it?

Publication Date: December 2002

Publisher: Families USA

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities still face inequalities in health coverage, provider access, and overall health status. Uninsured adults are less likely to receive preventive care, screening services, and appropriate acute and chronic disease management and they are more likely to have poorer overall health compared to insured individuals. The lack of health insurance often forces people to put off needed medical care because they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs of medical services. These problems disproportionately affect the diverse and fast-growing ethnic groups known as Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI's). AAPI's make up about 4 percent of the population but about 5 percent of the uninsured.