A secondary analysis of data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey revealed that women with distinct demographic and socio-economic characteristics identify different physician specialty groups as their usual source of care. The use of certain physician groups for primary care resulted in higher rates of use and expenditures, particularly for younger women. Identifying an internist, rather than a family/general practitioner or an obstetrician/gynecologist, as a usual source of care placed one at higher odds of making more visits and incurring higher total outpatient costs.