HEALTH-INSURANCE AND HEALTH-STATUS - IMPLICATIONS FOR FINANCING HEALTH-CARE REFORM

Self-reported health status measures from the 1987 National Medical Ex penditure Survey indicate significant differences among each of five p opulation groups defined by current health insurance coverage. These d ifferences in health status imply that the groups are likely to exhibi t different patterns of expenditures, even if enrolled in the same hea lth insurance after health care reform. The healthiest group along mos t dimensions is the population covered by employer-sponsored insurance , followed in order by the population with nongroup private insurance, the uninsured population, the population that qualifies for public co verage based on income, and the population that qualifies for public c overage based on medical need. While the general health and mental hea lth of the uninsured are slightly worse in comparison to the privately insured, the uninsured have fewer chronic health problems. The uninsu red who recently lost private insurance or who live in working familie s are significantly healthier than the long-term or low-income and non working uninsured.