December 28, 2012

Working-Age Adults Visiting Doctor Less Often

A recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that working age adults are going to doctors or other medical professionals less often than a decade ago.  In 2010, people age 18 to 64 visited medical professionals, on average, 3.9 times per year, compared to 4.8 visits in 2001.  The findings were reported in the Census Bureau report, Health Status, Health Insurance, and Medical Services Utilization: 2010.

As reported in the New York Times, the reasons for the decline were not entirely clear.  Demographic change may account for part of the decline.  Also, the share of uninsured working-age people has increased over the last decade.

The report found that the uninsured were far less likely than the insured to have at least one medical visit in 2010 (24% compared to 72%).