The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69958

Kirsten Knutson, MPH¹, Weihong Zhang, MS¹, Farzaneh Tabnak, MS, PhD², and Georjean Stoodt, MD, MPH¹. (1) California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section, 601 North 7th Street, MS-428, PO Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234, 916-324-7967, kknutson@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Cancer Detection Section, California Department of Health Services, 601 N. 7th Street, MS 428, PO Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320

An underserved population in California often targeted for services by public health programs is the underinsured. The concept “underinsured” may be programmatically defined in various ways, such as requiring that those eligible for program services have only health insurance with limited benefits (insurance does not cover services provided by the program), or have co-pays or a deductible for covered services for which they are unable to pay. For program planning, implementation, and research purposes, estimates of the underinsured population targeted must be calculated. However, health program definitions of “underinsured” may not directly correspond to information contained in California survey or population-based data. Because the health insurance information of California residents contained in available data is limited to basic insured status, such as whether an individual is insured by type of insurance, the operational definition of "underinsured" must be subjectively determined. As well as presenting the challenges associated with translating the concept “underinsured” to available data, this paper demonstrates how multiple sources of information can be used to develop and justify an operational definition. Sources and types of data, prior research, and program-related information which are relevant to health program definitions of “underinsured” are identified, and limitations are discussed. As public health addresses the gap in services to the underinsured, the concept “underinsured” must be clearly understood. The challenges and limitations associated with developing an operational definition of “underinsured” demonstrate the need for data and research representing this population.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in the session will be able to:
• 1. Recognize that health program definitions of “underinsured” may not directly correspond to data containing health insurance information.
• 2. Identify information that may aid in the translation of the concept “underinsured” to data.
• 3. Discuss the limitations associated with translating a health program definition of “underinsured” to the data.

Keywords: Insurance, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.