Policy Changes and Improvements in Health Insurance Coverage Among MSM: 20 U.S. Cities, 2008-2014.
AIDS Behav
; 21(3): 615-618, 2017 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27771817
ABSTRACT
Recent policy changes have improved the ability of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) to secure health insurance. We wanted to assess changes over time in self-reported health insurance status among MSM participating in CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) in 2008, 2011, and 2014. We analyzed NHBS data from sexually active MSM interviewed at venues in 20 U.S. cities. To determine if interview year was associated with health insurance status, we used a Poisson model with robust standard errors. Among included MSM, the overall percentage of MSM with health insurance rose 16 % from 2008 (68 %) to 2014 (79 %) (p value for trend < 0.001). The change in coverage over time was greatest in key demographic segments with lower health insurance coverage all three interview years, by age, education, and income. Corresponding with recent policy changes, health insurance improved among MSM participating in NHBS, with greater improvements in historically underinsured demographic segments. Despite these increases, improved coverage is still needed. Improved access to health insurance could lead to a reduction in health disparities among MSM over time.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
HIV Infections
/
Homosexuality, Male
/
Insurance Coverage
/
Health Status Disparities
/
Health Policy
/
Insurance, Health
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
/
Patient_preference
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
AIDS Behav
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States