Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
2019

Knowledge of Health Insurance Terms and the Affordable Care Act in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Urban Communities (Article)

Patel M.R.* , TerHaar L. , Smith A. , Tariq M. , Worthington K. , Hinton J. , Lichtenstein R.
  • a Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States
  • b Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States
  • c Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States
  • d Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Dearborn, MI, United States
  • e Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States
  • f Health Disparities Reduction/Minority Health Section, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, MI, United States
  • g Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Abstract

Confusion around health insurance reforms persist. The purpose of this study was to assess demographic differences in Affordable Care Act (ACA) and health insurance knowledge in a multi-ethnic urban sample. Data came from 243 adults from racial/ethnic communities. Participants were asked about elements of health insurance and the ACA. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to examine relationships between demographic predictors and knowledge domains. Female gender (p < 0.05) and Latino/Hispanic race/ethnicity (p < 0.001) were most predictive of lower eligibility knowledge, while non-citizen with residency status (p < 0.001) and other/not declared residency status (p < 0.001) were most predictive of lower insurance coverage knowledge. No demographic factors predicted enrollment knowledge. Latino/Hispanic race/ethnicity (p < 0.01) was most predictive of not knowing that more people can get insurance because of the ACA. In conclusion, there is variation in health insurance and ACA-related knowledge in multi-ethnic populations. More compatible health communication interventions are needed to support outreach to key demographic groups. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Affordable Care Act Health insurance Racial/ethnic groups Knowledge disparities

Index Keywords

male ethnic group urban population female major clinical study ethnicity race medical information Article health insurance human adult gender human experiment Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069907514&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-019-00924-3&partnerID=40&md5=0d6bcddff665fab44dafc59fb45b96b5
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00924-3
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English