Insurance Type and Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among US Women

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Access to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in the US is limited.
• Understanding factors contributing to MHT underuse and racial disparities is crucial for equitable care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if Medicaid insurance is linked to lower MHT use compared to private insurance.
• To explore if insurance type influences racial differences in MHT utilization.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using NHANES data (2013-2020).
• Included women aged 45-64 with Medicaid or private insurance eligible for MHT.
• Multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations between insurance type and MHT use.

Main Results:

• Medicaid-insured women had significantly lower odds of MHT use (OR, 0.50).
• Private insurance covered 91.4% of the sample, while Medicaid covered 8.6%.
• Insurance status partially explained racial disparities in MHT use between Black and White participants.

Conclusions:

• Medicaid coverage is associated with reduced MHT use, indicating a role for insurance in menopausal care disparities.
• Addressing insurance-related barriers is essential for promoting equitable access to MHT.
• Findings underscore the need for policy and clinical interventions to improve MHT access for diverse populations.