Healthcare Access Annotated Bibliography
U.S. research on insurance, usual sources of care, cost barriers, and access to services
1
Mykyta, L., & Weeks, J. D. (2026).
Source of usual health care for adults age 18 and older: United States, 2024
(NCHS Data Brief No. 558). National Center for Health Statistics.
This data brief uses the 2024 National Health Interview Survey to examine where U.S. adults usually go when
they need health care. The authors report that 90.3% of adults had a source of usual care in 2024, with
differences by age and sex. It is useful for healthcare-access research because a regular source of care can
support prevention, early detection, and chronic disease management. The report's national survey design
makes it strong for describing access patterns, although it does not explain the personal causes behind those
patterns. A researcher could use it to establish current U.S. conditions before examining insurance, cost,
geography, or other barriers.
2
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.).
Access to health services
.
Healthy People 2030
. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
This federal literature summary defines access to health care as the timely use of personal health services
needed to achieve the best possible health outcomes. It reviews barriers such as lack of insurance,
transportation difficulties, limited health resources, and cost. The source is useful because it presents
healthcare access as a combination of availability, affordability, and timely use rather than as insurance
coverage alone. It also connects access barriers with health disparities and delayed care. Because it synthesizes
existing literature instead of presenting an original study, it is most useful for defining the topic and identifying
major areas for further research.
3
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.).
Access to primary care
.
Healthy People 2030
. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
This literature summary focuses on access to primary care and explains the role of regular providers in
prevention, early treatment, and chronic disease management. It identifies barriers including inadequate
insurance, transportation, language, work schedules, geographic distance, and shortages of providers. The
discussion is relevant to healthcare access because insurance does not by itself guarantee convenient or timely
primary care. Its attention to rural communities and provider availability gives researchers useful directions for
examining geographic differences. The source also discusses approaches such as telehealth and workforce
programs, which can be explored further in research on improving access.
4
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.).
Reduce the proportion of people who can't get medical
care when they need it (AHS-04)
.
Healthy People 2030
. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
