Disparities in Access to Health Insurance Coverage for Working Age Individuals with Disabilities

Although there exists an increasingly large body of research literature regarding disparities in access to health insurance coverage for children, low-income individuals and communities, culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and rural areas; there is a scarcity in the research literature regarding disparities in access to health insurance coverage for adults with disabilities. This population may be the largest underserved population with health disparities as individuals with disabilities report greater unmet needs in service use when compared with their counterparts without disabilities. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that for all adults ages 18-64, individuals with complex activity limitations are significantly less likely to have private health insurance coverage (39.1%) when compared to those with basic activity limitations (43.2%), and individuals with basic activity limitations are significantly less likely (43.2%) than those with neither limitation to have private health insurance coverage (72.0%). However, there is little conclusive evidence identifying strategies to effectively reduce disparities in access to health insurance coverage for working age individuals with disabilities. This study provides a unique contribution to existing research by utilizing the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) full-year consolidated data files from 2002-2007 to (1) provide a comparison profile of employer-based health insurance coverage for working age adults with disabilities across six measures of disability; (2) examine the relationship between health insurance coverage and type of employment and industry sector; and (3) analyze the relationship between access to employer-based health insurance coverage and individual sociodemographic characteristics.