Federal Regulation
CHW Course
Social Determinants of Health

Minority Persons with Disabilities Report

Author: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Region: USA National
Last modified: 14 May 2026

According to the NCD report, people with disabilities have poorer health and use health care at a significantly higher rate than do people without disabilities. People with disabilities also experience a higher prevalence of secondary conditions (e.g., obesity) and use preventive services at a lower rate than do persons without disabilities. People with disabilities frequently lack health insurance or coverage for necessary services such as specialty care, long-term care, care coordination, prescription medications, durable medical equipment, and assistive technologies. Persons with disabilities often receive care from multiple providers without adequate coordination of services as well. Along with poorer health and higher use of health care, the NCD report documents that barriers to preventive services disproportionately affect people with disabilities: for example, persons with disabilities are less likely to receive counseling for smoking cessation than are persons without disabilities. Other barriers include health care provider stereotypes about disabilities; lack of appropriate provider training; and a lack of accessible medical facilities and examination equipment, sign language interpreters, and individualized accommodation. People with disabilities also experience inequitable treatment in health care settings, racial and ethnic disparities, limited access to health information, and exclusion from health-related research.