23 Sep Almost 2 Million Diabetics Gained Health Insurance Under Affordable Care Act
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Myerson
Rebecca Myerson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Population Health Sciences
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin, Madison
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Many people with diabetes are undiagnosed, and those who are diagnosed often are untreated and uncontrolled. Increasing access to health insurance for patients with health care needs was a goal of the Affordable Care Act.
We analyzed information from 11 years of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which gathers data that are nationally representative of the civilian population. The biennial survey includes biomarkers, including HbA1c, a measure of blood-sugar control. Using the NHANES data allowed the researchers to identify those with undiagnosed diabetes.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We found that in 2009 and 2010, 17 percent of adults who were under the age of 65 and had diabetes were uninsured. After the ACA took effect, that percentage declined by 12 percentage points and by 27 percentage points among those with low income (defined in the study as below 138 percent of the federal poverty level).
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Our estimates suggest that 1.9 million people with diabetes gained coverage under the ACA, and 1.2 million of the people with diabetes who gained coverage had low income.
Why is this important? “Insurance coverage can change the health trajectory of people with diabetes by providing access to diagnosis and treatment,” said Myerson. “But just as importantly, increasing coverage rates can also enhance health equity, because people with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes disproportionately belong to underserved groups.”
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: Future research should investigate whether these improvements in coverage, particularly for people who were previously unaware of their diabetes, resulted in improved health, including increased control of diabetes.
Citation:
The Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Coverage Among People With Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Diabetes: Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Rebecca Myerson, John Romley, Tommy Chiou, Anne L. Peters and Dana Goldman
Diabetes Care September 23, 2019; dc190081. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc19-0081
[subscribe]
Last Modified: [last-modified]
The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.
Last Updated on September 23, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD