Age group differences in healthcare access for people with disabilities: are young adults at increased risk?

The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe the population of young adults with disability in Florida and to assess correlates of healthcare access in this population in contrast with adults belonging to middle and older age groups.

This study analyzed data of 36,704 respondents obtained from the 2007 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. A test for homogeneity of the risk difference across the three age groups was conducted using inverse weighting to adjust for confounding and selection bias.

The adjusted model for risk difference of not being able to see a doctor in the past 12 months because of cost was significantly heterogeneous across age groups (χ(2)(2df)F value = 12.40, p < .01). The risk difference between population of young adults with disability and their age peers decreased significantly across the groups. The risk difference was 15.5% for those aged 18-29, 11.9% for those aged 30-64, and 2.1% for those aged ≥65.

This article quantifies the differences in risk and access to health care between young adults with and without disability, using population-based data. It provides indirect evidence of the widely held belief that there is a problem in healthcare transition in the United States warranting continued investigation and intervention.