Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on: November 7, 2020
Health and Healthcare Access for Essential, Nonessential, and Nonworkers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Alyssa Shell Tilhou1, Brendan Saloner, Thomas DeLeire
1From the Department of Family Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (A.S.T.); Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (B.S.); McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC (T.D.); Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (S.C.); and Department of Public Service and Administration, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (L.D.).
Objective:
The aim of the study is to describe sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare access, and health status of low-income essential, nonessential, and nonworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Using survey data (2020-2021) from Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees ( N = 2528), we compared sociodemographics, healthcare access, and health status between essential, nonessential, and nonworkers.
Results:
Essential workers had less consistent health insurance coverage and more problems paying medical bills than nonessential and nonworkers. They reported better health than nonessential and nonworkers. They reported fewer work-limiting conditions and less outpatient healthcare utilization than nonworkers but similar rates as nonessential workers. Essential workers reported masking less frequently than nonworkers but similar frequency to nonessential workers, and lower COVID-19 vaccine willingness than nonessential and nonworkers.
Conclusions:
Essential workers report better health, fewer protective behaviors, and more healthcare barriers than nonessential and nonworkers. Findings indicate essential worker status may be a social determinant of health.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
01:22Standards of Care I
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...