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Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wong, CA; Asch, DA; Vinoya, CM; Ford, CA; Baker, T; Town, R; Merchant, RM
Published in: J Adolesc Health
August 2015

PURPOSE: We describe young adults' perspectives on health insurance and HealthCare.gov, including their attitudes toward health insurance, health insurance literacy, and benefit and plan preferences. METHODS: We observed young adults aged 19-30 years in Philadelphia from January to March 2014 as they shopped for health insurance on HealthCare.gov. Participants were then interviewed to elicit their perceived advantages and disadvantages of insurance and factors considered important for plan selection. A 1-month follow-up interview assessed participants' plan enrollment decisions and intended use of health insurance. Data were analyzed using qualitative methodology, and salience scores were calculated for free-listing responses. RESULTS: We enrolled 33 highly educated young adults; 27 completed the follow-up interview. The most salient advantages of health insurance for young adults were access to preventive or primary care (salience score .28) and peace of mind (.27). The most salient disadvantage was the financial strain of paying for health insurance (.72). Participants revealed poor health insurance literacy with 48% incorrectly defining deductible and 78% incorrectly defining coinsurance. The most salient factors reported to influence plan selection were deductible (.48) and premium (.45) amounts as well as preventive care (.21) coverage. The most common intended health insurance use was primary care. Eight participants enrolled in HealthCare.gov plans: six selected silver plans, and three qualified for tax credits. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults' perspective on health insurance and enrollment via HealthCare.gov can inform strategies to design health insurance plans and communication about these plans in a way that engages and meets the needs of young adult populations.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

August 2015

Volume

57

Issue

2

Start / End Page

137 / 143

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Philadelphia
  • Male
  • Internet
  • Insurance, Health
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
 

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Wong, C. A., Asch, D. A., Vinoya, C. M., Ford, C. A., Baker, T., Town, R., & Merchant, R. M. (2015). Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults. J Adolesc Health, 57(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.017
Wong, Charlene A., David A. Asch, Cjloe M. Vinoya, Carol A. Ford, Tom Baker, Robert Town, and Raina M. Merchant. “Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults.J Adolesc Health 57, no. 2 (August 2015): 137–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.017.
Wong CA, Asch DA, Vinoya CM, Ford CA, Baker T, Town R, et al. Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults. J Adolesc Health. 2015 Aug;57(2):137–43.
Wong, Charlene A., et al. “Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults.J Adolesc Health, vol. 57, no. 2, Aug. 2015, pp. 137–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.017.
Wong CA, Asch DA, Vinoya CM, Ford CA, Baker T, Town R, Merchant RM. Seeing Health Insurance and HealthCare.gov Through the Eyes of Young Adults. J Adolesc Health. 2015 Aug;57(2):137–143.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

August 2015

Volume

57

Issue

2

Start / End Page

137 / 143

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Philadelphia
  • Male
  • Internet
  • Insurance, Health
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Services Needs and Demand