Low Income and Barriers to Use of Health Services

Abstract

IN 1967 Americans made an estimated 850,000,000 visits to physicians — approximately 4 1/2 visits per person for the civilian, noninstitutional population of the United States.§ The cost of these visits, it is estimated, accounted for 25 to 30 per cent of the $48,000,000,000 (6.2 per cent of the Gross National Product) spent on medical care. How can we determine whether this number of visits is adequate or too high or too low?The funds expended on medical care may be viewed as the result of direct competition with other needs. On a national scale the share of funds allocated . . .