Comparing Health Care Access and Outcomes in New vs. Established Hispanic Destinations

Shannon M. Monnat, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Social demographic research on access to healthcare services and health outcomes across different geographic segments of the Hispanic population is sparse. The geographic dispersion of Hispanics throughout the past two decades to new areas outside the traditional southwest prompts the need to study factors associated with Hispanic health care access and health outcomes across spatial contexts. Accordingly, I draw on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the US Census, and the Area Resource Files to compare Hispanic health care access and outcomes across established vs. new Hispanic destination counties. Compared to Hispanics living in established destination counties, those residing in new destinations are less likely to have a personal doctor or have health insurance. They are also less likely to report fair/poor health. However, they are more likely to report a functional limitation. There are no differences in chronic disease prevalence among Hispanics across the different destination types.