title: Health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization among homeless young adults in Venice, CA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeless young adults are a vulnerable population with great healthcare needs. Under the Affordable Care Act, homeless young adults are eligible for Medicaid, in some states, including California. This study assesses homeless young adults' health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization prior to Medicaid expansion.
  
  
  METHODS
  All homeless young adults accessing services at a drop-in center in Venice, CA, were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire; 70% of eligible clients participated (n = 125).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within this majority White, heterosexual, male sample, 70% of homeless young adults did not have health insurance in the prior year, and 39% reported their last healthcare visit was at an emergency room. Past year unmet healthcare needs were reported by 31%, and financial cost was the main reported barrier to receiving care. Multivariable logistic regression found that homeless young adults with health insurance were almost 11 times more likely to report past year healthcare utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health insurance coverage is the sole variable significantly associated with healthcare utilization among homeless young adults, underlining the importance of insurance coverage within this vulnerable population. Service providers can play an important role by assisting homeless young adults with insurance applications and facilitating connections with regular sources of health care.
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Winetrobe
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rice
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Rhoades
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Milburn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: health services; socioeconomic factors; young people
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