Related Experiment Videos
Uninsured under TennCare: a case study of public health clinic users
R M Rubin1, C Chang, R Stolarick
1Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis, and Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, Tenn 38111, USA.
Background:
We characterized public health clinic users 4 years after implementation of a major public health insurance reform and identified barriers to health care access.
Methods:
We used face-to-face interviews and profile analysis of survey findings.
Results:
The typical public health client household is larger, poorer, and more likely to be black than the wider population. The health status of participants is generally good; the level of insurance coverage is preponderantly TennCare; and 90% of respondents are willing to pay some premium.
Conclusions:
Lack of health insurance does not present a serious health care access barrier, nor do transportation or location; but taking time off from work with loss of wages is a problem for those employed. A cost-effective way to enroll uninsured children is to use the County Health Department clinics as a contact point.