Data Description: Research has shown that the burden of health care cost is one of the factors that contributes to lower healthcare utilization. For patients, costs usually represent the amount of money that they have to pay out of pocket for health care services. 

Data Source: "Was there a time in the past 12 months when you needed to see a doctor but could not because you could not afford it?"

Note: The wording of this question was revised slightly in 2021. In previous years, it was phrased as: "Was there a time in the past 12 months when you needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost?"

https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/data/brfss/2023/nc/all/medcost1.html

Responses to this and other questions on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey in North Carolina provide information about the health and wellbeing of North Carolina residents. Responses are organized by gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, functional disability, veteran status, employment status, household income, poverty level, housing, rural-urban residency, and by NC Department of Commerce Tier system (for measuring economic well being/distress).