Page 122 - 2015 Compass Now

1 | APPENDIX Aspects of health by demographic characteristics
See In-Depth Analysis for more detail.
Gender: Females rated their overall mental health lower than males. Females rated their ability to pay for
healthy food choices lower than males. Females rated their ability to pay for dental care lower than males.
Females were more likely than males to report that in the past month they avoided seeing a doctor because
of cost (31% reported this, compared to 19% of males).
Age: Older adult respondents were more likely to rate their overall health as fair or poor than those under
age 65. Older adult respondents were more likely to rate most other aspects of health more positively.
Access to health care was rated higher among those 65 and up, and lowest among those 21-50 years.
Access to mental health care was rated higher by those over age 65. Access to healthy food choices was
rated highest among those ages 51-64 years and lowest among those 21-50 years. Respondents over
age 65 were more likely to say their ability to pay for healthy food choices was good or excellent. Younger
respondents (under age 65) all rated their ability to pay for health care, dental care and mental health care
lower than those over age 65. Younger respondents were more likely to report avoiding care due to cost
(37% reported this) compared to 8% of adults over age 65.
Education: In general, respondents with lower educational attainment rated all aspects of health lower than
those with some post-secondary education. Those with some college or vocational training rated all aspects
of health lower than those with a college or advanced degree, although those with some college/vocational
training rated the overall mental health about the same as those with less education. Additionally, those
with some college/vocational training rated their overall health similarly to those with less education. Those
respondents with less education (less than a college degree) were less likely to report that everyone in the
household has health insurance. Those with some college or vocational training were more likely to report
avoiding care in the past 12 months due to cost.
Income: Respondents earning less than $25,000 were more likely to rate all aspects of health lower than
those earning over $25,000. Those earning between $25,000 and $75,000 rated all aspects of health
lower than those earning more than $75,000. Those earning less than $25,000 were more likely to report
someone in the household was without health insurance (17%) compared to those earning $25,000-75,000
(8%) and those earning more than $75,000 (2%). Those earning less than $75,000 were more likely to
report avoiding care in the past year because of cost.
Race: There were no differences in rating of aspects of health by race, except for access to mental health
care. Over 25% of non-white respondents rated their access to mental health care as fair or poor, compared
to 12% of white respondents.

114 COMPASS NOW 2015