Examining the Role of Health Insurance Coverage in Access to Care: Having a Primary Care Provider
Abstract
Introduction: Access to healthcare is a fundamental determinant of overall health outcomes. Health insurance coverage and having a primary care provider (PCP) play crucial roles in ensuring individuals receive timely and appropriate medical care. This study examines the relationship between insurance coverage and the likelihood of having a PCP among Tennessee (TN) residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using BRFSS 2023 data from TN. The primary outcome was having a PCP, and the main exposure was health insurance coverage. Co-variates included gender, age group, education, income and urbanicity status. Weighted logistic regression was performed. Results: Overall, the study sample included 3184 individuals, aged 18-64 years. Approximately 65% of the study population reported private insurance,7% reported Medicaid coverage, 14% reported other insurance coverage, and 12% reporting not having any source of insurance. Having a PCP was reported by 78.4% of the population. This varied by insurance type with 84.4% among private insurance, 82.4 among Medicaid, 83.3 among other insurance, and 42.5% among uninsured individuals. No differences in reported PCP were noted for Medicaid and other insurance sources compared to private insurance. Individuals with no insurance had a much lower odds of reporting PCP (AOR 0.12; 95% CI 0.09-0.17) than those with private insurance. This relationship persisted after adjusting for covariates (Age, sex, education, income, and urbanicity). Conclusion: Having private health insurance significantly increases the likelihood of a person having a Primary Care Provider. Insurance fosters greater access to healthcare services and is needed to access most health care providers. Efforts to ensure access to insurance among those who do not have insurance remains an important policy goal for improving access to healthcare in TN.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate Student - Doctoral
Faculty Mentor
Nathan Hale
Faculty Department
Health Services Management and Policy
Examining the Role of Health Insurance Coverage in Access to Care: Having a Primary Care Provider
Introduction: Access to healthcare is a fundamental determinant of overall health outcomes. Health insurance coverage and having a primary care provider (PCP) play crucial roles in ensuring individuals receive timely and appropriate medical care. This study examines the relationship between insurance coverage and the likelihood of having a PCP among Tennessee (TN) residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using BRFSS 2023 data from TN. The primary outcome was having a PCP, and the main exposure was health insurance coverage. Co-variates included gender, age group, education, income and urbanicity status. Weighted logistic regression was performed. Results: Overall, the study sample included 3184 individuals, aged 18-64 years. Approximately 65% of the study population reported private insurance,7% reported Medicaid coverage, 14% reported other insurance coverage, and 12% reporting not having any source of insurance. Having a PCP was reported by 78.4% of the population. This varied by insurance type with 84.4% among private insurance, 82.4 among Medicaid, 83.3 among other insurance, and 42.5% among uninsured individuals. No differences in reported PCP were noted for Medicaid and other insurance sources compared to private insurance. Individuals with no insurance had a much lower odds of reporting PCP (AOR 0.12; 95% CI 0.09-0.17) than those with private insurance. This relationship persisted after adjusting for covariates (Age, sex, education, income, and urbanicity). Conclusion: Having private health insurance significantly increases the likelihood of a person having a Primary Care Provider. Insurance fosters greater access to healthcare services and is needed to access most health care providers. Efforts to ensure access to insurance among those who do not have insurance remains an important policy goal for improving access to healthcare in TN.