Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 21, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 540-548

Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Among US-Born and Foreign-Born Sexual Minorities (Article)

Gonzales G.* , Dedania R. , Driscoll R.
  • a Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2525 West End Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
  • c Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2525 West End Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

Abstract

Sexual minorities and immigrants face unique challenges to accessing health care in the United States. This study used data on nonelderly adults (n = 100,667) from the 2013–2016 National Health Interview Survey. Unadjusted prevalence estimates and multivariable logistic regression models (with and without interactions between immigration and sexual minority status) were used to compare health insurance coverage and access to care by immigration and sexual minority status. We did not find any differences in uninsurance, having a usual source of care, and a recent office visit by sexual orientation for US-born and foreign-born adults. However, compared to their heterosexual counterparts, US-born and foreign-born sexual minorities were more likely to have an emergency room visit in the prior year and report financial-related barriers to medical care, dental care, prescription medications, and mental health care. Foreign-born sexual minorities were more likely to have an emergency room visit and unmet mental health care needs due to cost compared to other subpopulations after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Broadening the knowledge and scope of research on sexual minority immigrants can inform targeted health policy approaches with the goal of achieving health equity for sexual minority immigrants. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Access to care LGBT health health policy Intersectionality

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049071627&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-018-0774-x&partnerID=40&md5=97dd1ccfb9486342ca0b3c24edef0479

DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0774-x
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English