Utilization of health care: the Laredo migrant experience

In 1973, three groups of randomly selected migrant labor families resident in Laredo, Texas were enrolled in a prepaid health insurance study. A study was implemented to determine the kinds and costs of medical care used by Mexican American migrant labor families in their homebase and travel areas where financial barriers to care were eliminated or reduced. At the end of three years it was found that the study population used ambulatory services about one-half as much as the general U.S. population while hospital use approached regional norms. The differences between homebase and out-of-area use are highlighted, and the reported failure to use any public facilities outside of Laredo is discussed.