EXHIBIT 1.
Characteristic | Number | Percent |
---|---|---|
Female | 107 | 51 |
| ||
Black | 72 | 34 |
White | 94 | 45 |
Hispanic | 57 | 27 |
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High school graduate | 180 | 85 |
Four-year college graduate | 77 | 36 |
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Annual family income less than $40,000 | 90 | 43 |
Very good or excellent health status | 101 | 48 |
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One or more chronic illnesses | 112 | 53 |
One or more cost-related barriers to access | 80 | 38 |
SOURCE Authors’ analysis. NOTES Characteristics are participants’ self-reported age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, income, health status, chronic medical conditions, and experience encountering cost-related barriers to accessing health care as recorded on a survey administered before focus-group discussions. Health status was self-reported as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. Chronic conditions were self-reported in response to the following question: “Has a doctor ever told you that you have any of the following illnesses: high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, other chronic or serious conditions?” Cost-related barriers were reported in response to the following questions: “In the past 12 months, have you (circle yes or no): NOT filled a prescription for medicine because you could not afford it? Taken medicine in smaller doses or less frequently than prescribed because of the cost? Skipped a medical test, treatment, or follow-up recommended by a doctor because you could not afford it? Had a medical problem but DID NOT go to a doctor or clinic because you could not afford it? Used up all your savings because of medical bills? Been unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat, or rent because of medical bills? Had problems paying or been unable to pay medical bills?” Participants’ mean age was 48 years, with a range of 19–86 years.