Stability of health care coverage among low-income working women

Abstract

This article examines health insurance stability patterns and the factors associated with stable coverage in a sample of 453 low-income working women. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), the authors found that only 51 percent of these women had stable coverage during 1995-1997. Logistic regression results indicate that, controlling for other factors, health insurance stability is significantly higher for those who have higher levels of welfare receipt, have more work hours, have fewer job changes, have higher education levels, are African American or Hispanic, and who live outside central cities. The findings suggest that point-in-time health coverage estimates substantially underestimate the health coverage problems of low-income working women. Health policies need to be more sensitive to transitional problems resulting from job changes, marital disruptions, and other changes in circumstances. Recommendations for revising health care policies and for improving existing health care programs are presented.