The effect of change of health insurance on access to care

This study examines how changes in health insurance status affect patients and their care. Results show that, controlling for socioeconomic factors, c ondition, age, and urgency, patients who lost insurance and patients who ch anged insurance were more likely to delay seeking care within the four mont hs after visiting an emergency department than people whose health insuranc e status did not change. Patients who lost covet-age were more likely to re port no primary care provider and were less likely to have recommended foll ow-up care within the four-month period. Loss of insurance also was associa ted with lower likelihood of vaccine use and check-ups in the prior year. T he study confirms that a loss or change in health insurance in the prior ye ar has a measurable effect on access to health care. The greatest impact wa s among patients who lost insurance, though patients who changed health pla ns also were more likely to delay seeking care than patients whose health i nsurance status did not change.