Online Program

335813
Health Care Needs among Insured Persons with Disabilities


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

John Gettens, PhD, Disability, Health and Employment Policy Unit, Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
Alexis Henry, ScD, OTR/L, Disability, Health and Employment Policy Unit, Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
Pei-Pei Lei, M.A., Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
Background:  Some persons with disabilities have health care needs that are not covered by their health insurance. This is well known; however, there is a lack of information that quantifies the need.

Methods: We examined the level of need among working-age adults with disabilities using a 2014 follow-up survey, Employment Need Survey (ENS), to the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS) (n=1014).  The ENS gathered information on the following: (a) health insurance, (b) demographics, (c) employment, (d) unmet needs for prescription medicine, mental health services, physical or occupational therapy, special medical equipment, personal care services, complementary care, care coordination (e) health care costs, and (f) service delivery.

Results: Preliminary results quantify the level of unmet need for services and problems related to health-care costs.  Insured persons with disabilities reported needing but not getting services at the following percentages: prescription medicine, 9%; mental health, 7%; physical, occupational or speech therapy, 6%; special equipment, 5%; personal care 3%; complementary care 11%; and care coordination 5%.  Persons reported problems related to health care costs:  23% needed to cut back on health care spending; 43% needed to cut back on other spending; 23% skipped doses, split pills or did not fill prescriptions due to cost; 21% skipped tests, and  treatment or follow-up due to cost.

Conclusion:  Among insured persons with disabilities, the unmet need for services ranges from 3% for personal care to 11% for complementary care.   The percentage of persons reporting cost-related problems is much higher.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the health insurance needs of insured persons with disabilities

Keyword(s): Health Insurance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on analyses of disability and healthcare policies and the effects of these programs. I conduct research on public health, healthcare and the employment of persons with disabilities.
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.