title: Health care experiences and preferences of uninsured workers.
abstract: An exploratory study of the experiences, beliefs, and preferences of uninsured workers found that uninsured workers are active in seeking solutions to their health care needs and have decided opinions about health care. They use a cost-benefit analysis in deciding which health problems warrant professional attention. However, uninsured workers also exhibit a contradictory pattern of behaviors and beliefs. They say their health is good, yet many have illnesses that they neglect. They are satisfied with the health care services they use, yet they want health insurance because they believe it provides more choice and ensures better care and treatment. They express few negative feelings about Medicaid, yet even among the poorest of these workers, few have recently used Medicaid. These findings can inform policy options being considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221-0108, USA. ruth.anne.vanloon@uc.edu
authors.forename: Ruth Anne
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Van Loon
authors.forename: Joyce R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Borkin
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Steffen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population