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2001 CHAP
Telephone Survey
What Portion of the Population Has Health Insurance?
With respect to health insurance
status, respondents were grouped as: 1) uninsured for the 12
months prior to the interview; 2) uninsured for some part but not
all of the prior 12 months; and 3) insured for 12 months. When
asked, “about how long has it been since you have been without
health insurance?” approximately 87.0% of respondents report never
being without health insurance (see
Table 10). For those
reporting they have been uninsured, 10.9% have been uninsured less
than one year (periodically), and 2.5% have been uninsured greater
than one year (chronically uninsured). When the same question is
posed for dependents, over 90% of dependents are reported as being
insured, nearly 6% are periodically uninsured (less than one
year), and one percent are chronically uninsured (greater than one
year). For other adults living in the household, 90.6% are
considered insured, whereas 8.6% are periodically uninsured, and
less than one percent are chronically uninsured. A small number
of the uninsured believe that they may qualify for Medicaid
(12.5%).
Comparisons of 1996 and 2001 CHAP
Telephone Survey responses of those 18-64 years old, indicate a
statistically significant improvement in insurance status for the
county as a whole (see Table 11). In 2001 14.0% of those surveyed
reported being uninsured, compared with 28.0% in 1996 (see
Figure
4). However, the 1996 and 2001 CHAP Telephone Surveys assessed
insurance status using slightly different methodologies. In order
to make direct comparisons, 2001 CHAP survey items assessing
insurance status were adapted to match another current Kansas
insurance study. These changes may account for the differences in
reported insurance status between the 2001 and 1996 telephone
survey results. In addition, it appears that the 1995 and 2001
samples are different as well.
In comparisons among continuity
of insurance status, we found a larger percentage of continually
insured adults in 2001 versus 1996, 86.6% vs.71.9%, respectively.
The percentage of periodically uninsured adults was also smaller
(10.9% vs. 21.3%), and finally the proportion of uninsured was
reduced (2.5% vs. 6.8%). In 2001 among those respondents with
health insurance at the time of the interview, most had some type
of commercial insurance (71.8%). Only about four percent of
survey respondents reported having Medicaid.
The 1999 BRFSS data is similar to
the 2001 CHAP data. When asked, “Do you have any kind of health
care coverage?” 89.0% of Sedgwick County residents responded yes.
Sedgwick County health insurance coverage rates are comparable to
national and Kansas rates of 87.6% and 89.6%, respectively (See
Graph 10). BRFSS data also shows the majority of Sedgwick County
residents health insurance coverage is gained through their
employer (66.3%) or other employer (21.0%). Less than one percent
of Sedgwick County BRFSS respondents indicate Medicaid as their
health insurance, somewhat lower than the four percent reported in
the 2001 CHAP telephone survey. National statistics for Medicaid
coverage (2.7%) are higher than for Kansas (1.1%) or Sedgwick
County (0.9%). Approximately seven percent of Sedgwick County
residents bought their own health insurance (not through their
employer), which is comparable to national statistics (7.6%) but
lower than Kansas’s rates (8.6%) (See
Graph 11).
What Types of Insurers Provide Coverage for Sedgwick County
Residents?
Nearly 82% of respondents
reported their insurance is purchased through their current work
place. Of those holding primary insurance policies, 56.8% carry
policies on themselves, while 38.2% have family policies and 2.7%
hold policies for their children only. Approximately two percent
hold individual, family or dependent policies from their former
employers. The majority of respondents indicate their dependents
are covered as a part of a family health insurance policy. Only
41 (6.6%) of respondents reported they purchase insurance on their
own (e.g. self-employed or employer doesn’t offer health care
insurance). Of these respondents approximately one-half purchase
an individual policy and the other half purchase a family policy.
Less than one percent of self-employed respondents report carrying
a secondary health insurance policy.
A very small percentage of the
2001 CHAP sample reports having secondary insurance policies.
Ninety-four percent of respondents reported they do not hold a
secondary health insurance policy. Of the six percent having a
second policy, one-half hold policies on themselves, and the other
half provide coverage for their families. Most of the policies
are purchased through the current employer. A fraction (2.4%) of
survey respondents report their dependents being covered by some
form of governmental insurance (Champus, Indian Health Services,
Medicaid, Healthwave, SCHIP or Medicare), but none reported
secondary insurance coverage.
For other adults living in the
household, 16.6% are reported as being uninsured, while 6.3% are
thought to be eligible for Medicaid, and 3.8% were reported as
being covered by Medicaid. When respondents were asked “Who
provides their health insurance coverage?” respondents indicate
that 60.5% of other adults in their household are covered by
insurance from the work place, and of this subset, 53% hold
individual policies and 42% hold family policies. Only 8% of
other adults have secondary insurance of some type through their
employer.
How does Managed Care Affect Health Care Utilization in Sedgwick
County?
When asked “Are you familiar with
the term managed care?” 72.5% of respondents answered yes. Survey
results show that a low percentage of children and adults are
enrolled in managed care plans. Only 28.2% of respondents
indicate they are enrolled in a managed care plan, while 11.8% of
dependents and 16.9% of other adults residing in household are
covered by or enrolled in a managed care plan. Of those
respondents who are enrolled in a managed care plan (N=174), 75.3%
indicate they must have approval from their doctor to see another
provider, while 23.6% state they see any provider they want. For
dependents, nearly 40% must seek prior approval, 12.6% may see any
provider they want, and nearly 50% did not know if prior provider
approval was necessary. For other adults living in the household,
nearly 60% require prior approval, while 15.4% do not.
What are the Costs of Purchasing Health Care Insurance in Sedgwick
County?
Respondents were asked, “About
how much do you have to pay each month for your insurance?” The
majority (72.7%) indicate their costs for insurance are up to $250
per month and over 80% of the respondents indicate their monthly
insurance premiums are less than $500. A surprising finding is
that over 15% of respondents do not know the monthly premium costs
for their family’s health insurance policy (see
Table 12).
When respondents were asked
reasons for why they didn’t have health care insurance, only a
small proportion of the sample answered this question (N=63). The
most frequently reported reason was the premium is too high for
the individual respondent (34.9%), for their dependents (17.9%)
and for other adults living in the household (20.6%) (See
Table
13). The second most frequent response cited for not having
health insurance was that it wasn’t offered where the respondent
worked (3.2%). The majority of respondents indicated the category
“other” for not having health insurance for themselves (58.7%),
for their dependents (80.6%) or for other adults living in their
homes (75.4%). Further investigation of this issue will be needed
to identify other factors for not being insured in Sedgwick
County.
Insurance Coverage by
Annual Income in Sedgwick County, 2001
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