Disparities in health insurance coverage, access, and outcomes for individuals in same-sex versus different-sex relationships, 2000-2007.
OBJECTIVE
We used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to compare health insurance coverage, access to care, and women's cancer screenings for individuals in same-sex versus different-sex relationships.


METHODS
We estimated logistic regression models by using data on 5265 individuals in same-sex relationships and 802,659 individuals in different-sex relationships.


RESULTS
Compared with women in different-sex relationships, women in same-sex relationships were significantly less likely to have health insurance coverage, were less likely to have had a checkup within the past year, were more likely to report unmet medical needs, and were less likely to have had a recent mammogram or Pap test. Compared with men in different-sex relationships, men in same-sex relationships were significantly less likely to have health insurance coverage and were more likely to report unmet medical needs, although they were more likely to have had a checkup in the past year.


CONCLUSIONS
In the largest and most recent nationally representative sample, we found important differences in health insurance coverage and access to care between individuals in same-sex relationships and those in different-sex relationships for both men and women.
Buchmueller
Thomas
T
Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Carpenter
Christopher S
CS
D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data