Gaps in Timely Access to Care Among Workers by Disability Status

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is important for workers with a disability because of their significant health care needs, relatively low incomes, and the complex interactions among work, federal disability benefits, and eligibility for public health insurance. Using data from the 2006–2010 National Health Interview Surveys, the study documents the characteristics and health insurance of workers with disabilities and considers how they relate to adequate and timely health care access. The study found significantly higher rates of reported difficulties accessing health care among employed adults with disabilities relative to their peers without disabilities, after controlling for personal characteristics and health insurance coverage. The findings suggest that although the ACA will improve access to health insurance, it is uncertain whether it will substantially reduce the likelihood that workers with disabilities experience barriers to health care access