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Will Uninsured People Volunteer for Voluntary Health Insurance? Experience from Washington State.
- Source :
- American Journal of Public Health; Apr96, Vol. 86 Issue 4, p529-532, 4p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 1996
-
Abstract
- Objectives. In national and local discussions of health care reform, there is disagreement about whether a national health insurance plan should he mandatory or voluntary. This study describes characteristics of low-income people who were more likely or less likely to be covered by a voluntary plan. Methods. Survey data were available from an evaluation of Washington State's Basic Health Plan, which offered subsidized health insurance to low-income residents. For those subjects who were eligible and uninsured at baseline, those who joined were compared with those who did not join on a variety of demographic and health-related characteristics. Results. There were substantial differences between those who did and did not join the Basic Health Plan. Those who did not enroll were generally less well-off, with less education, lower income, and worse health. Many had never had health insurance. Conclusions. If health care reform results in a voluntary plan, additional measures may be needed to ensure that less advantaged citizens have adequate access to health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00900036
- Volume :
- 86
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- American Journal of Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9605102322
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.86.4.529