The Asian American and Pacific Islander population is the fastest growing minority population in America. Currently numbering 10.9 million people (about 4% of the total U.S. population), this population is projected to reach 37 million (9.3% of the U.S. population) by the year 2050.
The Commonwealth Fund 2001 Health Care Quality Survey sampled 669 Asian Americans, allowing relevant subgroup comparisons. These subgroups included adults of Chinese,Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian, and Japanese heritage. Overall, the survey found that despite their comparatively higher socioeconomic status (as measured by income and education) Asian Americans reported poorer quality of health care than the overall population. Asian Americans had greater communication difficulties with their physicians, fewer preventive services and less chronic disease care, and less satisfaction with the quality of their health care.