17. Access to Healthcare Services
Regular checkups and preventative medicine are critical to maintaining good health in older Texans. In the 2008 survey, 92 percent of respondents reported having received a routine checkup in the previous year and 93 percent said they received a blood pressure screening, cholesterol, or other cardiovascular assessment during the same time. In the
2008 survey, 65 percent of those surveyed received a flu shot during the previous year and 57 percent reported receiving a pneumococcal vaccine in the past five years. (Not shown).
Availability of Healthcare Services
Only five percent of older Texans in 2004 and 2008 reported being unable to access healthcare when they needed it. For those who could not access care, cost was the most common barrier.
In 2008, approximately two percent (one percent, 2004) reported being unable to access mental health care when they needed it. For those who could not access mental health care, cost was also cited as the most common barrier.
Satisfaction with healthcare did not change from 2004 to 2008.
Table 17.1 Satisfaction with Healthcare Services
| "How satisfied are you with …" |
Very satisfied |
Somewhat satisfied |
Somewhat dissatisfied |
Very dissatisfied |
Total |
| Survey year 2004: The quality of your current healthcare services |
50% |
35% |
8% |
7% |
100% |
| Survey year 2008: The quality of your current healthcare services |
50% |
36% |
9% |
6% |
100% |
| Survey year 2004: Your ability to obtain healthcare services |
53% |
30% |
8% |
9% |
100% |
| Survey year 2008: Your ability to obtain healthcare services |
56% |
29% |
8% |
7% |
100% |
Affordability and Health Insurance
Most older Texans have health insurance. For Texans age 60 to 64 in 2008, 78 percent had health insurance (74 percent, 2004). For Texans age 65 and older, largely due to the availability of Medicare, 97 percent had some type of health insurance in both years. Individuals can have multiple sources of health insurance. With the exception of one item, the source of health coverage did not change from 2004 to 2008.
Table 17.2 Sources of Health Coverage
| "What type of health coverage helps pay for your
needs… (all that apply)" |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Health insurance plan available through employer |
13% |
11% |
| Health insurance plan available through someone else's employer |
6% |
8% |
| Health insurance plan available through former employer (retired) |
14% |
14% |
| Medicare |
76% |
73% |
| Medicaid |
15% |
14% |
| The military, CHAMPUS, TriCare, or the VA [or the CHAMP-VA] |
8% |
9% |
| Medicare Supplemental Insurance [26] |
23% |
18% |
| Individual health insurance plan not associated with government or employer |
10% |
10% |
| Some other source |
2% |
3% |
In 2008, 65 percent did not know whom to contact for financial assistance or help paying for healthcare services if they needed it (60 percent in 2004). Approximately 67 percent reported not knowing whom to contact for financial assistance or help paying for mental health services (64 percent in 2004).
Prescription Drug Coverage
In 2004, 70 percent of respondents reported that their insurance pays for at least part of their prescription drugs. In 2008, with the addition of Part D coverage to Medicare, the number increased to 85 percent. This increase was statistically significant.
In addition to insurance coverage, older Texans used several sources to help obtain needed prescription drugs.
Table 17.3 Sources of Prescription Coverage
| "Do you have or have you done any of the following to help you obtain prescription drugs?" |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Discount cards from Rx manufacturers [27] |
12% |
7% |
| Applied for free drugs from Rx manufacturers |
7% |
5% |
| Discount/reduced cost programs available at pharmacy |
15% |
19% |
| Mail order or Internet from inside US |
22% |
25% |
| Mail order or Internet from outside US |
3% |
3% |
| Travel outside US to obtain medications |
5% |
4% |
| Other method of obtaining Rx |
3% |
2% |
The decline in the use of discount cards from drug companies may be due to the implementation of Medicare Part D.
Footnotes
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 were less likely to report they had Medicare Supplement Insurance than those responding in 2004.
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 were less likely to report the use of discount cards from drug companies, compared to those who responded in 2004.
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Updated:
April 11, 2012
