Access to primary care physicians differs by health insurance coverage in Mississippi.

OBJECTIVES The objective of the study was to measure how access to primary health care in Mississippi varies by type of health insurance. METHODS We called primary care physician (general practitioner, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatric) offices in Mississippi three times, citing different types of health insurance coverage in each call, and asked for a new patient appointment with a physician. RESULTS Of all of the offices contacted, 7% of offices were not currently accepting new patients who had private insurance, 15% of offices were not currently accepting new Medicare patients, 38% were not currently accepting new Medicaid patients, and 9% to 21% of office calls were unresolved in one telephone call to the office. CONCLUSIONS Access to health insurance does not ensure access to primary health care; access varies by type of health insurance coverage.