The impact of health insurance status on adolescents' utilization of school-based clinic services: Implications for health care reform

This paper examines the relationship between national health insurance status and the pattern of traditional medicine (TRM) use among the general population in Ghana. A retrospective cross-sectional survey of randomly sampled adults, aged ≥18 years (N=324), was conducted. The results indicate that TRM use was high with prevalence of over 86%. The study found no statistically significant association between national health insurance status and TRM utilisation (P>0.05). Paradoxically, major sources of TRM, frequency of TRM use, comedical administration, and disclosure of TRM use to health care professionals differed significantly between the insured and uninsured subgroups (P<0.001). Whereas effectiveness of TRM predicted its use for both insured [odds ratio (OR) = 4.374 (confidence interval (CI): 1.753–10.913;P=0.002)] and uninsured [OR = 3.383 CI: 0.869–13.170;P=0.039)], work experience predicted TRM use for the insured [OR = 1.528 (95% CI: 1.309–1.900;P=0.019)]. Cultural specific variables and health philosophies rather than health insurance status may influence health care-seeking behaviour and TRM use. The enrollment of herbal-based therapies on the national health insurance medicine plan is exigent to ensure monitoring and rational use of TRM towards intercultural health care system in Ghana.

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The impact of health insurance status on the stage of cervical cancer diagnosis at a tertiary care center in Massachusetts

Gynecologic Oncology ◽

10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.05.002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 150 (1) ◽

pp. 67-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michelle Davis ◽

Kyle Strickland ◽

Sarah Rae Easter ◽

Michael Worley ◽

Colleen Feltmate ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Health Insurance ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Insurance Status ◽

Tertiary Care Center ◽

Health Insurance Status ◽

The Impact

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397 Health Insurance Status in Subjects at High Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.396 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A158-A158

Author(s):

Adnan Abbasi ◽

Sameepya Thatipelli

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Health Insurance ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

High Risk ◽

Low Risk ◽

Insurance Status ◽

Health Insurance Status ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Introduction Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major public health problem. Undiagnosed OSA can result in decreased productivity due to absenteeism, increased risk of comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression), and increased motor vehicle as well as workplace accidents. Lack of health insurance coverage can lead to undiagnosed and therefore untreated OSA. The objective of this study is to evaluate health insurance status in subjects at high-risk for OSA. Methods This is a cross-sectional, population-based study of adults 18 years and older who participated in the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A modified STOP-Bang score was used to calculate OSA risk. This score included all the variables from the standard STOP-Bang questionnaire, except neck circumference, since it was not reported in the NHANES survey. Subjects were divided into two groups: those at low-risk for OSA with a modified STOP-Bang score of ≤ 3 and those at high-risk for OSA with a modified STOP-Bang score of >4. Results A total of 4,847 adult subjects were included, which represented 223,385,241 of the U.S. non-institutionalized population. Using the modified STOP-Bang score cutoff of >4, 20.9% of the sample were classified as high-risk for OSA, while 79.1% were classified as low-risk for OSA. 90% of the high-risk OSA group and 85.1% of the low-risk OSA group reported having health insurance. Sociodemographic data will also be analyzed and included. Conclusion Approximately 10% of subjects who are at high-risk for OSA reported not having health insurance. This represents over 4.6 million Americans in the non-institutionalized population. Health insurance can improve access to health care. Timely diagnosis and treatment of OSA not only can reduce morbidity and mortality, but can also reduce health care costs. Support (if any) CDC for NHANES Data.

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