Knowledge and Utilization of Health Resources by Public Assistance Recipients

Abstract

A report is given on services provided for welfare recipients in an upstate New York county, on reported illnesses of the recipients, and on their utilization of the services. A comparison of these items in low-rent housing and in an industrial middle-income group is made. Only 1/3 of welfare recipients have private physicians compared to 2/3 of each of the other groups. Welfare recipients have little health insurance coverage. People in higher socio-economic groups regard themselves as healthier. Despite free availability of care, welfare recipients have more unattended illness than the other groups. Home nursing service is most frequently used by the lower socio-economic groups, especially welfare recipients.