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* Estimates based on sampled visits to office-based physicians and hospital outpatient department clinics.

† 95% confidence interval.

§ Children's Health Insurance Program.

¶ Includes self-pay, workers' compensation, and all other insurance types.

In 2009, an estimated 1,038 million visits were made to physician offices and 96 million visits to hospital outpatient department clinics for ambulatory care. Visits by patients to a doctor in a physician's office were more likely (54%) to be covered by private insurance than by Medicare (25%) or Medicaid (12%). Visits to outpatient departments showed a different payment source pattern: 37% of patients were covered by private insurance, 19% by Medicare, and 26% by Medicaid.

Sources: CDC's National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Alternate Text: The figure above shows patient visits to physician offices and outpatient departments, by payment source in the United States during 2009. In 2009, an estimated 1,038 million visits were made to physician offices and 96 million visits to hospital outpatient department clinics for ambulatory care. Visits by patients to a doctor in a physician's office were more likely (54%) to be covered by private insurance than by Medicare (25%) or Medicaid (12%). Visits to outpatient departments showed a different payment source pattern: 37% of patients were covered by private insurance, 19% by Medicare, and 26% by Medicaid.