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. 2025 Jul 13;17(7):e87847.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.87847. eCollection 2025 Jul.

Relationship Between Health Insurance Status and Frequency of Routine Medical Checkups

Feyisayo O Oguntuase  1 , Consolata Uzzi  2 , Tochukwu W Okahia  3 , Opemipo Adetifa  4 , Chinonso F Eziechi  5 , Okelue E Okobi  6   7 , Omamuyovbi F Nwoagbe  8 , Oluwatayo A Dare  9
Affiliations

Relationship Between Health Insurance Status and Frequency of Routine Medical Checkups

Feyisayo O Oguntuase et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: Routine medical checkups are essential for early disease detection and prevention. However, disparities in utilization persist across sociodemographic groups, particularly in relation to health insurance coverage in the US population.

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between health insurance status and recent routine medical checkups among US adults, using nationally representative survey data.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 329,549; weighted population = 198,183,089). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and survey-weighted logistic regression were employed to examine the associations between recent checkup status and various variables, including insurance coverage, age, sex, education, income, and race/ethnicity.

Results: Individuals with health insurance had nearly four times the odds of having had a recent checkup compared to those without insurance (OR = 3.90, 95% CI: 3.69-4.12). Female sex, older age, and Hispanic or Black race/ethnicity were also positively associated with recent checkups. Conversely, lower income and educational attainment were linked to reduced utilization.

Conclusion: Health insurance coverage is a strong predictor of routine healthcare utilization. Expanding access to insurance may substantially improve the uptake of preventive services, particularly among underserved populations.

Keywords: brfss; health disparities; health insurance; income; preventive care; race; routine check-up; sex; us adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of US adults reporting a recent routine medical checkup, stratified by insurance status, BRFSS 2019
This bar chart displays the weighted proportion of US adults who reported having a routine medical checkup in the past 12 months, stratified by insurance status. Estimates are based on BRFSS 2019 data and account for the complex survey design using appropriate weights. Insured individuals were significantly more likely to have had a recent checkup compared to uninsured individuals.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Adjusted odds ratios for predictors of recent routine medical checkup among US adults, BRFSS 2019
Forest plot displaying adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with having had a routine medical checkup in the past 12 months. Estimates are derived from a survey-weighted logistic regression model controlling for insurance status, age, sex, educational level, income, and race/ethnicity. Health insurance coverage, female sex, older age, and Hispanic or Black race/ethnicity were significantly associated with higher odds of recent checkup utilization. Reference groups include: uninsured, male, did not graduate from high school, income < $15,000, and non-Hispanic White.
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