Subsidized Marketplace Purchases Reduced Racial Disparities in Private Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act.
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SUBMITTER: Snowden LR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8760123 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:The United States has the largest socioeconomic disparities in health care access of any wealthy country. We assessed changes in these disparities in the United States under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We used survey data for the period 2011-15 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess trends in insurance coverage, having a personal doctor, and avoiding medical care due to cost. All analyses were stratified by household income, education level, employment status, and home ownership status. Health care access for people in lower socioeconomic strata improved in both states that did expand eligibility for Medicaid under the ACA and states that did not. However, gains were larger in expansion states. The absolute gap in insurance coverage between people in households with annual incomes below $25,000 and those in households with incomes above $75,000 fell from 31 percent to 17 percent (a relative reduction of 46 percent) in expansion states and from 36 percent to 28 percent in nonexpansion states (a 23 percent reduction). This serves as evidence that socioeconomic disparities in health care access narrowed significantly under the ACA.
| S-EPMC8087201 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To estimate the impact of the major components of the ACA (Medicaid expansion, subsidized Marketplace plans, and insurance market reforms) on disparities in insurance coverage after three years. DATA SOURCE:The 2011-2016 waves of the American Community Survey (ACS), with the sample restricted to nonelderly adults. DESIGN:We estimate a difference-in-difference-in-differences model to separately identify the effects of the nationwide and Medicaid expansion portions of the ACA using the methodology developed in the recent ACA literature. The differences come from time, state Medicaid expansion status, and local area pre-ACA uninsured rates. In order to focus on access disparities, we stratify our sample separately by income, race/ethnicity, marital status, age, gender, and geography. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:After three years, the fully implemented ACA eliminated 43% of the coverage gap across income groups, with the Medicaid expansion accounting for this entire reduction. The ACA also reduced coverage disparities across racial groups by 23%, across marital status by 46%, and across age-groups by 36%, with these changes being partly attributable to both the Medicaid expansion and nationwide components of the law. CONCLUSIONS:The fully implemented ACA has been successful in reducing coverage disparities across multiple groups.
| S-EPMC6341207 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Midyear disenrollment from Marketplace coverage may have detrimental effects on continuity of care and risk pool stability of individual health insurance markets. OBJECTIVE:The main objective of this study was to assess associations between insurance plan characteristics, individual and area-level demographics, and disenrollment from Marketplace coverage. DATA:All payer claims data from individual market enrollees, 2014-2016. STUDY DESIGN:We estimated Cox proportional hazards models to assess the relationship between plan actuarial value and Marketplace enrollment. The primary outcome was disenrollment from Marketplace coverage before the end of the year. We also calculated the proportion of enrollees who transitioned to other coverage after leaving the Marketplace, and identified demographic and area-level factors associated with early disenrollment. Finally, we compared monthly utilization rates between those who disenrolled early and those who maintained coverage. RESULTS:Nearly 1 in 4 Marketplace beneficiaries disenrolled midyear. The hazard rate of disenrollment was 30% lower for individuals in plans receiving cost-sharing reductions and 21% lower for those enrolled in gold plans, compared with silver plans without cost-sharing subsidies. Young adults had a 70% increased hazard of disenrollment compared with older adults. Those who disenrolled midyear had greater hospital and emergency department utilization before disenrollment compared with those who maintained continuous coverage. CONCLUSIONS:Plan generosity is significantly associated with lower disenrollment rates from Marketplace coverage. Reducing churning in Affordable Care Act Marketplaces may improve continuity of care and insurers' ability to accurately forecast the health care costs of their enrollees.
| S-EPMC6707510 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDisparities in uninsured emergency department (ED) use are well documented. However, a comprehensive analysis evaluating how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have reduced racial and ethnic disparities is lacking. The goal was to assess the association of the ACA with racial and ethnic disparities in uninsured ED use.MethodsThis study used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) for Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York from 2011 to 2017. Participants include non-elderly adults between 18 and 64 years old. Outcomes include uninsured rates of ED visits by racial and ethnic groups and stratified by medical urgency using the New York University ED algorithm. Visits were aggregated to year-quarter ED visits per 100,000 population and stratified for non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic non-elderly adults. Quasi-experimental difference-in-differences and triple differences regression analyses to identify the effect of the ACA and the separate effect of the Medicaid expansion were used comparing uninsured ED visits by race and ethnicity groups pre-post ACA.ResultsThe ACA was associated with a 14% reduction in the rate of uninsured ED visits per 100,000 population (from 10,258 pre-ACA to 8,877 ED visits per 100,000 population post-ACA) overall. The non-Hispanic Black compared to non-Hispanic White disparity decreased by 12.4% (-275.1 ED visits per 100,000) post-ACA. About 60% of the decline in the Black-White disparity was attributed to disproportionate declines in ED visit rates for conditions classified as not-emergent (-93.2 ED visits per 100,000), and primary care treatable/preventable (-64.1 ED visits per 100,000), while the disparity in ED visit rates for injuries and not preventable conditions also declined (-106.57 ED visits per 100,000). All reductions in disparities were driven by the Medicaid expansion. No significant decrease in Hispanic-White disparity was observed.ConclusionsThe ACA was associated with fewer uninsured ED visits and reduced the Black-White ED disparity, driven mostly by a reduction in less emergent ED visits after the ACA in Medicaid expansion states. Disparities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White adults did not decline after the ACA. Despite the positive momentum of declining disparities in uninsured ED visits, disparities, especially among Black people, remain.
| S-EPMC10676572 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeHealth insurance coverage affects a patient's ability to access optimal care, the percentage of insured patients on a clinic's panel has an impact on the clinic's ability to provide needed health care services, and there are racial and ethnic disparities in coverage in the United States. Thus, we aimed to assess changes in insurance coverage at community health center (CHC) visits after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion by race and ethnicity.MethodsWe undertook a retrospective, observational study of visit payment type for CHC patients aged 19 to 64 years. We used electronic health record data from 10 states that expanded Medicaid and 6 states that did not, 359 CHCs, and 870,319 patients with more than 4 million visits. Our analyses included difference-in-difference (DD) and difference-in-difference-in-difference (DDD) estimates via generalized estimating equation models. The primary outcome was health insurance type at each visit (Medicaid-insured, uninsured, or privately insured).ResultsAfter the ACA was implemented, uninsured visit rates decreased for all racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic patients experienced the greatest increases in Medicaid-insured visit rates after ACA implementation in expansion states (rate ratio [RR] = 1.77; 95% CI, 1.56-2.02) and the largest gains in privately insured visit rates in nonexpansion states (RR = 3.63; 95% CI, 2.73-4.83). In expansion states, non-Hispanic white patients had twice the magnitude of decrease in uninsured visits compared with Hispanic patients (DD = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.53-2.70), and this relative change was more than 2 times greater in expansion states compared with nonexpansion states (DDD = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.52-2.78).ConclusionThe lower rates of uninsured visits for all racial and ethnic groups after ACA implementation suggest progress in expanding coverage to CHC patients; this progress, however, was not uniform when comparing expansion with nonexpansion states and among all racial and ethnic minority subgroups. These findings suggest the need for continued and more equitable insurance expansion efforts to eliminate health insurance disparities.
| S-EPMC5593726 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Disparities in trauma outcomes based on insurance and race are especially pronounced among young adults who have relatively high uninsured rates and incur a disproportionate share of trauma in the population. The 2010 Dependent Coverage Provision (DCP) of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed young adults to remain on their parent's health insurance plans until age 26 years, leading to >3 million young adults gaining insurance. We investigated the impact of the DCP on racial disparities in coverage expansion among trauma patients. STUDY DESIGN:Using the 2007-2012 National Trauma Data Bank, we compared changes in coverage among 529,844 19- to 25-year-olds with 484,974 controls aged 27 to 34 years not affected by the DCP. Subgroup analyses were conducted by race and ethnicity and by census region. RESULTS:The pre-DCP uninsured rates among young adults were highest among black patients (48.1%) and Hispanic patients (44.3%), and significantly lower among non-Hispanic white patients (28.9%). However, non-Hispanic white young adults experienced a significantly greater absolute reduction in the uninsured rate (-4.9 percentage points) than black (-2.9; p = 0.01) and Hispanic (-1.7; p < 0.001) young adults. These absolute reductions correspond to a 17.0% relative reduction in the uninsured rate for white patients, 6.1% for black patients, and 3.7% for Hispanic patients. Racial disparities in the provision's impact on coverage among trauma patients were largest in the South and West census regions (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Although the DCP increased insurance coverage for young adult trauma patients of all races, both absolute and relative racial disparities in insurance coverage widened. The extent of these racial disparities also differed by geographic region. Although this policy produced overall progress toward greater coverage among young adults, its heterogeneous impact by race has important implications for future disparities research in trauma.
| S-EPMC4676942 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Youth aging out of the foster care system in the US are a vulnerable population. When in foster care, youth are eligible for their state's Medicaid program, but they lose eligibility when they age out of foster care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has the potential to address some of the health care needs of former foster youth through the Medicaid eligibility expansion to low-income adults and by extending Medicaid eligibility up to age twenty-six for former foster youth. Using the 2011-18 National Youth in Transition Database, we found that Medicaid expansion increased Medicaid coverage among former foster youth by 10.1 percentage points, and the age extension increased coverage by 3.4 percentage points. There is suggestive evidence of positive spillovers for both policies. Our findings imply that the ACA improved Medicaid coverage among former foster youth, with the largest effects from Medicaid expansion. The modest effects of the Medicaid age extension may imply a need to revise enrollment, recertification, outreach, and eligibility determination processes to further increase Medicaid coverage among former foster youth.
| S-EPMC8588631 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionCost sharing can deter the use of health services and act as a potential contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in cancer. The Affordable Care Act required most health plans to cover, without cost sharing, preventive services, including colorectal cancer screening. Population-based data were used to estimate the impact of the Affordable Care Act's cost-sharing provision (together with other Affordable Care Act provisions targeting preventive care) on ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening, comparing Hispanics with non-Hispanics.MethodsAn interrupted time series quasi-experimental analysis was used to examine ethnic differences in colorectal cancer screening pre- and post-implementation of the Affordable Care Act (analysis performed in 2018). The study cohort included insured individuals aged 50-64 years who participated in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2007 through 2015 (n=44,343).ResultsDuring the pre-Affordable Care Act period, screening rates decreased annually for non-Hispanics by -0.38 per 100 adults per year (95% CI= -0.55, -0.22) but remained level for Hispanics (annual trend per 100 adults: 0.01, 95% CI= -0.34, 0.35). After cost sharing was eliminated in 2011, colorectal cancer screening rates increased for both Hispanics (by 1.29 per 100 adults, 95% CI=0.69, 1.89) and non-Hispanics (by 0.58 per 100 adults, 95% CI=0.18, 0.99). The difference in trend increases between Hispanics and non-Hispanics was not statistically significant (0.70%, 95% CI= -0.24, 1.64).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that Affordable Care Act implementation resulted in increased colorectal cancer screening; however, the effect of the law was not significantly different between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. These results provide indications that more needs to be done to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening.
| S-EPMC8285085 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe Affordable Care Act established policy mechanisms to increase health insurance coverage in the United States. While insurance coverage has increased, 10%-15% of the US population remains uninsured.ObjectivesTo assess whether health insurance literacy and financial literacy predict being uninsured, covered by Medicaid, or covered by Marketplace insurance, holding demographic characteristics, attitudes toward risk, and political affiliation constant.Research designAnalysis of longitudinal data from fall 2013 and spring 2015 including financial and health insurance literacy and key covariates collected in 2013.SubjectsA total of 2742 US residents ages 18-64, 525 uninsured in fall 2013, participating in the RAND American Life Panel, a nationally representative internet panel.MeasuresSelf-reported health insurance status and type as of spring 2015.ResultsAmong the uninsured in 2013, higher financial and health insurance literacy were associated with greater probability of being insured in 2015. For a typical uninsured individual in 2013, the probability of being insured in 2015 was 8.3 percentage points higher with high compared with low financial literacy, and 9.2 percentage points higher with high compared with low health insurance literacy. For the general population, those with high financial and health insurance literacy were more likely to obtain insurance through Medicaid or the Marketplaces compared with being uninsured. The magnitude of coefficients for these predictors was similar to that of commonly used demographic covariates.ConclusionsA lack of understanding about health insurance concepts and financial illiteracy predict who remains uninsured. Outreach and consumer-education programs should consider these characteristics.
| S-EPMC5352474 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceDental coverage for adults is a state option in Medicaid, and despite significant gains in coverage after the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), dental outcomes among adults in expansion states remain unexplored.ObjectiveTo explore the association of state coverage of dental benefits through Medicaid expansion with clinical dental outcomes.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2018. Included participants were low-income adults aged 19 to 64 years with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level. The study used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare changes from before to after ACA expansion in expansion states vs in control states. Changes were examined in the full sample and separately in states that did and did not provide Medicaid adult dental benefits. We defined a state as providing Medicaid adult dental benefits if it covered services beyond emergency dental benefits in 2014. Data were analyzed from November 2020 to March 2021.ExposuresMedicaid expansion under the ACA.Main outcomes and measuresRates of health coverage, having a dental visit, affordability of dental care in the past year, poor oral health, and teeth flossing were obtained from self-reported data. Mean number of missing teeth and prevalence of untreated decayed teeth, filled teeth, and functional dentition were obtained from clinical examination data.ResultsAmong 7637 low-income adults, the mean (SD) age was 37.8 (13.4) years and 4153 (weighted percentage, 54.5 %) were women. At baseline, 1732 low-income adults in nonexpansion states compared with 2520 low-income adults in expansion states were more likely, as shown by weighted percentage, to be Black (473 individuals [21.0%] vs 508 individuals [15.1%]) and US born (1281 individuals [76.7%] vs 1613 individuals [69.6%]). In the full sample, Medicaid expansion, compared with nonexpansion, was associated with an increased rate of seeing a dentist in the prior year (12.4 percentage points; 95% CI 4.6 to 20.2 percentage points; P = .003). In expansion states that provided dental benefits, compared with nonexpansion states that provided dental benefits, the expansion was associated with increases in rates of Medicaid coverage (8.2 percentage points; 95%CI 0.5 to 15.8 percentage points; P = .04) and having seen a dentist in the previous year (11.4 percentage points, 95% CI, 3.7 to 19.1 percentage points; P = .006) and decreases in the uninsured rate (-12.6 percentage points, 95% CI -18.9 to -6.4 percentage points; P < .001) and prevalence of untreated decayed teeth (-16.8 percentage points; 95% CI, -25.5 to -8.0 percentage points; P = .001). In states without Medicaid dental benefits, the expansion was associated with an increase in the mean number of missing teeth (1.3 teeth; 95% CI 0.1 to 2.5 percentage points; P = .04) and a decrease in the prevalence of functional dentition (-8.7 percentage points; 95% CI, -14.1 to -3.3 percentage points; P = .003) compared with nonexpansion states.Conclusions and relevanceThis study found that the combination of Medicaid expansion and coverage of Medicaid dental benefits was associated with improved oral health among low-income adults.
| S-EPMC8485174 | biostudies-literature