Barriers to care

Access to health care has long been a source of inequities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). People with IDD in the United States are much more likely than the general public to depend on publicly funded health care (primarily through Medicaid and Medicare) rather than private insurance, which may limit access to care and health outcomes. However, individuals with IDD with comprehensive insurance also experience barriers to care and poorer health outcomes than the general population. Recommended solutions include better access to preventative health screenings, better monitoring and treatment for chronic conditions common in the general population such as diabetes and hypertension, improved efforts to promote health amongst adults with IDD who are aging, more attention to the needs of people with IDD not in the long-term supports and services system, and more effective inclusion of people with IDD in health and wellness programs.