EMBARGOED UNTIL:  JULY 25, 1995 (TUESDAY) 

Public Information Office                         CB95-132
301-457-2794
301-457-4067 (TDD)

Jack McNeil
301-763-8300


             THREE-FIFTHS OF THE NATION'S UNINSURED 
   VISITED DOCTORS DURING 2-YEAR SURVEY, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS

     EMBARGOED UNTIL:  JULY 25, 1995 (TUESDAY) - Although the
absence of health insurance reduces the use of health-care
services, 61 percent of uninsured persons had at least one doctor
visit over a 24-month period in 1990-92, according to a Census
Bureau study released today.

     The report, "The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage on
Doctor and Hospital Visits:  1990-92" (P70-44), examined data for
persons 16 to 64 years of age and found that health insurance
coverage, health status, and disability were closely related to
the use of health-care services.

     Eighty-seven percent of the 107 million persons who had
private coverage for the full 2-year period visited the doctor at
least once, the report said.  The rate was 75 percent for the 
26 million persons who were covered for only part of the period
and who did not have any government coverage (Medicaid or 
Medicare).  The rate dropped to 61 percent for those who spent
the entire period without coverage, a total of 9 million persons.

     Ninety-two percent of the 9.4 million persons who had some
Medicaid or Medicare coverage and were covered all 24 months
visited a doctor at least once.  The rate was 84 percent for the
5.5 million persons who had some Medicaid or Medicare coverage,
but were covered fewer than 24 months.

     The proportions spending one or more nights in a hospital
were 12 percent for those fully insured by private coverage, 
10 percent for those with private coverage that did not extend
over the full period, and 8 percent for those with no coverage.

     Thirty-one percent of those insured during the entire survey
period whose insurance included some Medicaid or Medicare spent
one or more nights in a hospital.  The proportion of Medicaid- or
Medicare-covered persons insured only part of the 24-month period
who spent one or more nights in a hospital was 36 percent.

     The report used statistical models in an attempt to measure
the net effect of such characteristics as coverage status, age, 
income, health status, and disability.  The models also were used
to measure the impact of hypothetical changes in the distribution
of some of these characteristics.

     The report states that efforts to improve general health
status and reduce the prevalence of disability could have a major
impact on the level of spending for health-care services.  This
is based on a simulation finding that if all persons 16 to 
64 were in the highest health status category, there would be a
38 percent reduction in the number of nights spent in a hospital.
The combination of this shift with the elimination of disability
would result in a total reduction of 36 percent in doctor visits
and 52 percent in hospital nights, holding other things constant.

     Data for the study came from the Survey of Income and
Program Participation.  Persons who died during the 24-month
period or who entered nursing homes were not represented in the
sample.  As in all surveys, the data in the report are subject to
sampling variability and other sources of error.

                              -X- 

Editor's note:  EMBARGOED UNTIL:  JULY 25, 1995 (TUESDAY) - media
representatives may request a copy of the report from the
bureau's Public Information Office by telephone:  301-457-2794;
fax:  301-457-3670; or e-mail:  pio@census.gov.  Non-media orders
should be directed to the bureau's Customer Services Branch on
301-763-INFO(4636) or fax 301-457-3842.