Research Alert: January 21, 2026

Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance

High-quality health care, including use of preventive services, is important to maximize health and well-being. Both rural residents and people with disabilities experience specific barriers to quality care, but less is known about use of preventive care at the intersection of disability status and geographic location. Even less is known about how those relationships vary by insurance status. This policy brief examines rates of utilizing two types of preventive care (routine physicals and flu vaccination) by rural-urban location, disability status, and health insurance type.

Key Findings:

• People with disabilities and adults 65 and older were more likely than their counterparts without disabilities and those under age 65 to have had a routine physical and to have received a flu vaccination within the last year.
• People who were uninsured had much lower probabilities of having a routine physical compared to their privately insured counterparts, regardless of rurality or disability status, ranging from over 48% - 58% without insurance compared to over 79% - 88% with private insurance.
• People who were uninsured had the lowest probabilities of flu vaccination, especially compared to people who were privately insured, regardless of rurality and disability. The lowest probability of flu vaccination overall was among uninsured rural residents without disability (19%).

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More FORHP-funded research on Disabilities
• More information about the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center