ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS MORE LIMITED
Why Is This Important?
Poor health outcomes are strongly correlated to poverty, poor access to preventative health care, lifestyle choices, and education. Although the availability of health services has improved in the community, not everyone has access to these services because of affordability or a lack of insurance coverage. Early and continued access to quality, affordable health care is crucial in guaranteeing the health and prosperity of Solano County’s residents. Preventative care such as timely childhood immunizations encourage long‐term health, prolong and save lives, prevent significant disability, and lessen medical costs. Because of the costly nature of health care, people with health insurance are more inclined to seek routine medical care and to take advantage of preventative health‐screening services.
How Are We Doing?
Compared to the state, a higher percentage of Solano County residents have health insurance coverage. In 2009, nearly 54 percent of Solano County residents had employment‐based health insurance – this is roughly 4 percent greater than the percentage of California residents. This higher percentage is largely responsible for Solano’s lower percentage of uninsured residents than California. The uninsured made up 20 percent of Solano County residents and 24 percent of California residents in 2009. According to the State of California, “The lack of health insurance among so many was due to sharp increases in local unemployment and the corresponding drops in both household income and job-based coverage.”