Vineyard Health Care Access

In 1996, Dukes County convened a 35 member Dukes County Health Council to identify a community vision and direction for health care on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The Council identified a key issue to the community - accessible and affordable healthcare for the island's low income uninsured and underinsured population.

Despite the Vineyard's image as a wealthy vacation destination, many year-round residents face economic challenges from the seasonal economy. A 1998 survey found that the rate of uninsured Vineyard residents was two times the rate for the state of Massachusetts. Other barriers include difficulty finding primary care doctors, limited access to medical specialists, affordable dental care, and language access for patients with limited English proficiency.