Santa Barbara County has a variety of high quality health and medical care providers in both the private and public sector to address a broad-range of health needs within our communities. Our public health, social service, and mental health agencies, medical facilities and community-based health organizations are well-regarded.

Unfortunately, not all of our residents can access care within the medical care system. Lack of insurance continues to be a major determinant of access to needed health services.

About 1 in 5 adults and children in the survey reported no health care coverage. Among Hispanic adults the percentages were higher with 40% of adults and 30% of children having no health care coverage. In comparison, the percent of adults in California with no health care coverage is 18% and across the nation it is 13%. The Healthy People 2000 objective for the nation is that no children and adults under age 65 will lack health care coverage.

People with no health care coverage are much less likely to get preventive care and more likely to delay seeking care when they are ill. Uninsured patients are less than half as likely to get preventive care or to have had any recent medical visits. For Santa Barbara County, about 12% of adults and 7% of children said that cost prevented them from visiting a doctor in the past year. This is somewhat higher than for California (10%) and the nation (9%).

An important aspect of health care access is whether individuals have a source of care that they usually go to if they are sick or need advice about their health. Almost 1 in 4 adults and 13% of children do not have a regular medical provider. The Healthy People 2000 national goal is for 5% or less of our nation to lack a regular medical care source.

Those with health insurance coverage may still find cost a barrier. Almost 13% of adults said their health insurance doesn't cover the cost of prescription medications. The cost of needed medications is often an insurmountable barrier for people with limited economic means. Even those who are fairly well off financially can be impacted by the need for costly medications. Respondents were asked if they had any untreated problems or conditions that they think could be helped by a medical, dental, or mental health professional or counselor. About 19% of adults and 13% of children have such untreated health problems or conditions.

Summary: Access to Care

• About 1 in 5 Santa Barbara County adults and children have no health insurance
• Health insurance doesn't cover the cost of prescription medications for 13% of adults
• Cost prevented a visit to the doctor within the past year for 12% of adults
• 19% of adults and 13% of children have untreated health problems or conditions
• 25% of adults do not have a regular medical provider