Health insurance literacy: A mixed methods study of college students. Issue 5 (4th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nobles, Alicia L.; Curtis, Brett A.; Ngo, Duc A.; Vardell, Emily; Holstege, Christopher P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 67:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 469
• Page End: 478
• Publication Date: 2019-07-04
• Subjects: Access to care -- decision-making -- health education -- health insurance literacy -- health literacy -- insurance; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1486844
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This study examines the health insurance literacy, or the ability to use health insurance effectively, of college students.Participants: A total of 455 students from a large, public university completed an online questionnaire in November 2016.Methods: A questionnaire examined students' knowledge of commonly encountered health insurance terms and ability to apply that knowledge to determine cost-sharing in a clinical setting.Results: The majority of students were able to correctly identify the most commonly encountered terms, but could not identify terms related to plan types and options. Eighty-eight percent of students could not determine their cost-sharing for two presented scenarios. Approximately half of the students indicated they had been confused about their health insurance plan, with one-quarter of students stopping or delaying medical care due to confusion.Conclusions: Outreach and education for students should target specific deficits in knowledge such as those identified in this study.