Table 2.3: People who have a usual primary care provider a, by education b, United States, 2008
Population characteristics Less than High School High School Some college
Percent Standard Error Percent Standard Error Percent Standard Error
Total 64.5 1.1 71.5 0.9 74.9 0.8
Age in years
Under 65 58.0 1.2 67.0 0.9 72.4 0.8
18-44 51.9 1.5 58.5 1.2 65.4 1.0
45-64 69.5 1.6 78.2 1.2 81.8 1.1
65 and over 87.5 1.2 90.2 1.2 91.1 1.0
Sex
Male 58.1 1.5 65.1 1.2 71.5 0.9
Female 71.4 1.2 77.4 1.0 78.0 0.8
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 50.8 2.0 53.0 1.8 61.6 1.8
White, Non-Hispanic, single race 72.2 1.4 76.7 1.1 77.3 0.9
Black, Non-Hispanic, single race 65.1 2.2 63.3 1.8 71.2 1.6
Asian, Non-Hispanic, single race 68.3 5.9 61.7 4.7 69.8 2.3
Other single races/multiple races, Non-Hispanic -- -- 73.5 4.3 74.2 4.9
Health insurance status c
<65, Any private 70.9 1.8 75.1 1.1 75.3 0.9
<65, Public only 70.6 2.1 73.8 2.2 78.7 2.3
<65, Uninsured 34.7 2.0 39.1 1.7 46.3 2.0
65+, Medicare only 88.2 1.8 88.7 2.0 90.7 2.0
65+, Medicare and private 91.5 1.6 92.6 1.4 91.2 1.2
65+, Medicare and other public 82.6 2.9 -- -- -- --
65+, Missing -- -- -- -- -- --
Poverty status d
Negative or Poor 59.6 1.9 58.7 2.1 64.7 2.1
Near-poor 58.8 2.9 62.5 3.2 67.5 3.4
Low income 63.0 2.2 68.7 1.7 68.2 2.0
Middle income 67.6 2.1 71.8 1.3 72.5 1.2
High income 71.7 2.4 78.7 1.3 78.7 1.0
Metropolitan statistical area (MSA)
MSA 63.7 1.2 71.1 1.0 74.5 0.8
Non-MSA 68.2 2.5 73.1 2.1 77.5 2.0
Census Region
Northeast 78.1 1.9 80.6 1.9 81.9 1.7
Midwest 68.3 2.4 76.0 1.5 77.8 1.4
South 60.5 1.9 66.3 1.6 70.8 1.3
West 59.2 1.7 67.3 2.0 72.7 1.5
Perceived Health Status
Excellent 53.8 2.6 61.5 1.9 68.7 1.4
Very Good 62.8 2.0 72.1 1.3 75.7 1.0
Good 62.2 1.7 73.7 1.2 78.6 1.2
Fair 75.1 1.9 80.2 1.6 81.6 1.9
Poor 85.8 2.3 83.1 2.8 86.6 2.7
a A usual primary care provider is defined as the source of care that a person usually goes to for new health problems, preventive care, and referrals to other health professionals.
b Includes persons age 18 and over only. "Less than high school" refers to fewer than 12 years of education; "high school graduate", 12 years of education; and "at least some college", more than 12 years of education.
c Uninsured refers to persons uninsured during the entire year. Public and private health insurance categories refer to individuals with public or private insurance at any time during the period; individuals with both public and private insurance and those with Tricare (Armed-Forces-related coverage) are classified as having insurance.
d Poor refers to incomes below the Federal poverty line; near poor, over the poverty line through 125 percent of the poverty line; low income, over 125 percent through 200 percent of the poverty line; middle income, over 200 percent to 400 percent of the poverty line; and high income, over 400 percent of the poverty line.
-- Less than 100 sample cases.
* Relative standard error equal to or greater than 30%.
Source: Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2008.