Intermittent lack of health insurance coverage and use of preventive services.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the association between intermittent lack of health insurance coverage and use of preventive health services.


METHODS
Analyses focused on longitudinal data on insurance status and preventive service use among a national sample of US adults who participated in the Health and Retirement Study.


RESULTS
Findings showed that, among individuals who obtain insurance coverage after histories of intermittent coverage, relatively long periods may be necessary to reestablish clinically appropriate care patterns. Increasing periods of noncoverage led to successively lower rates of use of most preventive services.


CONCLUSIONS
Intermittent lack of insurance coverage-even across a relatively long period-results in less use of preventive services. Studies that examine only current insurance status may underestimate the population at risk from being uninsured.
Sudano
Joseph J
JJ
Center for Health Care Research and Policy, Case Western Reserve University at the MetroHealth Systeme, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA. jsudano@metrohealth.org
Baker
David W
DW
D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology