Healthy People 2020Access to health care impacts one's overall physical, social, and mental health status and quality of life.
Barriers to health services include:
High cost of care
Inadequate or no insurance coverage
Lack of availability of services
Lack of culturally competent care
These barriers to accessing health services lead to:
Unmet health needs
Delays in receiving appropriate care
Inability to get preventive services
Financial burdens
Preventable hospitalizations
Access to care often varies based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and residential location
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