Health service access, use, and insurance coverage among American Indians/Alaska Natives and Whites: what role does the Indian Health Service play?

OBJECTIVES

We compared access and utilization of health services among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) with that among non-Hispanic Whites.

METHODS

We used data from the 1997 and 1999 National Survey of America's Families to estimate odds ratios for several measures of access and utilization and the effects of Indian Health Service (IHS) coverage.

RESULTS

AIANs had less insurance coverage and worse access and utilization than Whites. Over half of low-income uninsured AIANs did not have access to the IHS. However, among the low-income population, AIANs with only IHS access fared better than uninsured AIANs and as well as insured Whites for key measures but received less preventive care.

CONCLUSIONS

The IHS partially offsets lack of insurance for some uninsured AIANs, but important needs were potentially unmet.