Introduction

For 50 million Americans living in rural areas across the country, accessing quality health care is not only challenging but costly. ¹ Rural areas have higher rates of poverty, chronic disease, and uninsurance, and millions of rural Americans have limited access to a primary health care provider. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of these health and access disparities that are already a problem in rural communities.

Health insurance reform aims to extend coverage to all Americans and improve the delivery of vital health care to rural America.