Figure 3.1. Percent
of persons who failed to obtain needed medical care during the past 12
months due to financial barriers: United States, 1997-2002
NOTES: The analysis
excluded persons with unknown success in obtaining needed medical care
(about 0.5% of respondents). CI is confidence interval.
DATA SOURCE: Family
Core component of the 1997-2002 National Health Interview Surveys. The
estimate for 2002 was based on data collected from January through June.
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From January through June 2002, 4.5% (95% CI = 4.3%
- 4.8%) of the population was unable to obtain needed medical care due to
financial barriers during the year preceding the interview, a slight
decrease from 4.7% in 2001 but not statistically significant.
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From 1998 through 2001, an increasing trend has
occurred in the annual percent of persons who experienced this lack of
access to medical care (4.2% in 1998, 4.3% in 1999, 4.5% in 2000, and 4.7%
in 2001).
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