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Associations of Health Insurance, Household Income, and Cost-Related Healthcare Barriers With Routine Medical Checkup Utilization Among U.S. Adults: Evidence From the 2024 BRFSS

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Objective To examine associations of health insurance status, household income, and cost-related healthcare barriers with receipt of a routine medical checkup among U.S. adults. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Survey-weighted descriptive estimates and multivariable logistic regression incorporated sampling weights, strata, and primary sampling units. The outcome was a routine medical checkup within the previous 12 months. Results Among 321,592 complete cases, 78.0% of U.S. adults reported a recent routine checkup. Cost-related barriers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.57) and uninsurance (AOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.27-0.29) were associated with lower checkup utilization. Lower household-income groups generally had lower adjusted odds than adults with incomes of $200,000 or more. Conclusions Insurance, income, and reported cost barriers were independently associated with routine checkup utilization. Findings are descriptive and do not establish causal effects.

Source: medRxiv

DOI: 10.64898/2026.09.29.26364306

Authors: Chika Onwuameze, John Nwoha, Godyson Orji

Institutions: Illinois Department of Public Health, Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Policy and Management

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7214965228