title: Preparing to measure health coverage in federal surveys post-reform: lessons from Massachusetts.
abstract: In preparation for health reform in 2014, qualitative research was conducted with Massachusetts residents to explore how to adapt surveys to accommodate reporting information about health exchanges. Questions about exchange participation were effective when state-specific exchange program names were offered, but generic terms such as "marketplace" and "exchange" did not resonate with respondents. However, respondents were able to understand new questions about premiums and subsidies and to answer with a high degree of accuracy. These questions, taken in tandem with answers on plan type, were sufficient to distinguish among Medicaid, subsidized exchange coverage, and unsubsidized coverage, even without the benefit of state-specific exchange program names.
authors.affiliation: US Census Bureau, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodean
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leeman
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosenza
authors.forename: Alisu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoua-Glusberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D019472:Universal Health Insurance
keywords: exchange; health reform; survey measurement