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Type of health insurance and the quality of primary care experience.
- Source :
-
American journal of public health [Am J Public Health] 2000 Dec; Vol. 90 (12), pp. 1848-55. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Objectives: This study examined the association between type of health insurance coverage and quality of primary care as measured by its distinguishing attributes--first contact, longitudinality, comprehensiveness, and coordination.<br />Methods: The household component of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used for this study. The analysis primarily focused on subjects aged younger than 65 years who identified a usual source of care. Logistic regressions were used to examine the independent effects of insurance status on primary care attributes while individual sociodemographic characteristics were controlled for.<br />Results: The experience of primary care varies according to insurance status. The insured are able to obtain better primary care than the uninsured, and the privately insured are able to obtain better primary care than the publicly insured. Those insured through fee-for-service coverage experience better longitudinal care and less of a barrier to access than those insured through health maintenance organizations (HMOs).<br />Conclusions: While expanding insurance coverage is important for establishing access to care, efforts are needed to enhance the quality of primary health care, particularly for the publicly insured. Policymakers should closely monitor the quality of primary care provided by HMOs.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Health Care Surveys
Health Services Accessibility standards
Health Status
Humans
Insurance Coverage
Insurance, Physician Services classification
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
Private Sector
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
Fee-for-Service Plans standards
Health Maintenance Organizations standards
Insurance, Physician Services standards
Medically Uninsured psychology
Patient Satisfaction
Primary Health Care standards
Quality of Health Care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0090-0036
- Volume :
- 90
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11111255
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.90.12.1848