183330 Rural-Urban disparities in health insurance coverage among working-age adults in Kentucky

Monday, October 27, 2008: 3:10 PM

Ning Lu, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Administration, College of Health and Human Services, Governors State University, University Park, IL
Michael Samuels, DrPH , Family and Community Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Phillip Kletke, PhD , Department of Health Administration, College of Health and Human Services, Governors State University, University Park, IL
Elmer Whitler, MA, MPA , School of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Many factors are known to have an effect on an individual having or not having health insurance. For example, age, employment status, health status, and income of the individual. These factors vary to the extent by place of residence. Thus, the rates of health insurance coverage may differ for rural and urban areas. This study is to examine the effect of place of residence on overall health insurance status and specific health insurance coverage for prescription medicine, vision, dental health, mental health, and drug abuse treatment among working-age adults in Kentucky.

Data for this study came from the cross-sectional household survey conducted from May 27 through September 12, 2005 in Kentucky. A total of 2068 Individuals between ages of 18 to 64 were included in this study. The survey collected information on health status, health insurance coverage, and use of health care services, access to care, and personal demographics and socioeconomic status. The statistical analyses focused on examining the differences in overall health insurance coverage and specific coverage for prescription medicine, vision care, dental care, mental health, and drug abuse treatment between rural and urban working-age adults, controlling for confounding factors.

Our study demonstrated that although the overall health insurance coverage measured by having health insurance versus not having insurance is more likely to be influenced by employment status and income than by the place of residence, health insurance coverage for vision care, dental care, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment are strongly related to the rural-urban status among working-age adult Kentuckians.

The challenge for health administrators and policy makers is that the differences in specific health insurance coverage are closely related to the rural conditions, for example, small size employers and limited insurance coverage obtained through employment in rural area may not be easily amenable to policy interventions.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize how health insurance coverage varies between rural and urban working-age adults. 2. Evaluate the effect of place of residence on health insurance coverage. 3. Discuss the plan to address the disparities in health insurance coverage between rural and urban areas.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Ph.D in healthcare administration. Associate Professor of Health Administration. Publications in the field of healthcare administration and public health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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