HEALTH-CARE ACCESS AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICANS WITH DIFFERENT HEALTH-INSURANCE COVERAGE

This study describes the rates of health care access among Mexican Ame ricans with different health insurance coverage. An interview question naire was used to collect information regarding socio-demographics, pe rceived health status, health insurance coverage, and sources of healt h care from a random sample of 501 Mexican Americans from San Antonio, Texas. Health care access was determined more by having health insura nce coverage than by health care needs. Poor Mexican Americans with he alth insurance had higher health care access rates than did poor Mexic an Americans without health insurance. Health care access may improve health care outcomes, but more comprehensive community-based campaigns to promote health and better use of health services in underprivilege d populations should be developed.