title: Most uninsured people unaware of health care safety net providers.
abstract: Less than half of uninsured Americans either typically use or are aware of a safety net provider in their community, according to a national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). Among all uninsured people, those with lower-incomes, racial/ethnic minorities and people living closer to safety net providers are more likely to know of or use a safety net provider for medical care. Uninsured people identify physician offices and community health centers most frequently as sources of lower-cost medical care, while hospital-based facilities--outpatient and emergency departments--are less likely to be mentioned. Despite high levels of emergency department (ED) use by uninsured people, few identify EDs as places to get affordable medical care.
authors.forename: Jessica H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008913:Minority Groups; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017664:Uncompensated Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States