According to the United Nations, primary health care can meet 90% of a community’s needs. Primary care — medical care that focuses on health and well-being, including preventive health, such as vaccinations and education — is a vital part of the health care continuum. It proactively and efficiently addresses the main causes of illness and poor health. Regular primary care reinforces healthy activities, prevents and reduces disease incidence, identifies and manages developing or chronic illnesses, and guides patients through the medical system, should they need specialty care. Yet, nearly 50% of insured adults skip their primary care. In addition to costs, patients' reasons for missing routine care include being too busy, the inconvenience, appointment delays, the clinic is too far away, or lack of transportation. The rate of the uninsured or underinsured who forego primary care is even higher. This overall health care deficit costs the U.S. an estimated $67 billion every year.
Despite the importance of primary care, not everyone in the U.S. has access to a provider. In 2017, about 30% of men and 17% of women in the U.S. did not have a primary care provider. The percentages are higher among underserved communities and in certain parts of the country, such as Nevada, Texas, and Alaska. Instead, these people try to manage at home and use urgent care clinics and emergency rooms when they need care.