Publication Date: January 21st, 2026
Publication Type: Policy Brief
Topic(s): Disabilities, Health Disparities and Health Equity, Healthcare Access, Quality, Social Determinants of Health
Author(s): Swendener A, Rydberg K, Iezzoni L, and Henning-Smith C
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. In this policy brief, we examine rates of utilizing two types of preventive care (routine physicals and flu vaccination) by rural-urban location, disability status, and health insurance type.