The Association Between Health Insurance Type And Delay In Health Care Due To Cost Among Young Adults, Aged 18-26, Post Affordable Care Act: National Health Interview Survey (Nhis) 2010-2014
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Date
2017
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Public Health and Policy
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Doctor of Public Health
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This item is made available by Morgan State University for personal, educational, and research purposes in accordance with Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Other uses may require permission from the copyright owner.
Abstract
With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), especially the extension of dependent care coverage, we have assumed that the increase in health insurance coverage will increase access to health care. However, there are costs associated with having health insurance and the cost of health care services vary depending on the health insurance benefits package. So, the question remains, did the increase in health insurance coverage increase access to health care? The objective of this study was to examine the association between health insurance type and the delay in health care due to cost, utilizing self-reported insurance status and self-reported delay in health care due to cost after adjusting for socio-demographic factors and the influence of race and gender on this relationship, as well as any changes between 2010 and 2014. Using 2010 to 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data, I assessed the association between delay in health care due to cost and health insurance via multiple logistic regressions with 95% confidence intervals and a stratified analysis for gender and ethnicity. Delay in health care due to cost decreased between 2010 and 2014. Also, uninsured young adults were more likely to report a delay in health care due to cost. Meanwhile, young adults with Medicaid and Military insurance were less likely to report a delay in health care due to cost. Regardless of ethnicity or gender, young uninsured adults were more likely to delay health care due to cost compared to those with private insurance. This study suggests an association between health insurance and delay in health care due to cost post ACA. There have been efforts to increase insurance coverage and reduce the financial barrier to accessing health care; however, there may be public health and policy implications for public health and policy, research, outreach, education, and policy development that may reduce barriers to health care access.