American Journal of Public Health, Vol 90, Issue 12 1848-1855, Copyright © 2000 by American Public Health Association
Type of health insurance and the quality of primary care experience
L Shi
Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Hygiene, Baltimore, Md. 21205-1996, USA. lshi@jhsph.edu
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between type of health
insurance coverage and quality of primary care as measured by its
distinguishing attributes--first contact, longitudinality,
comprehensiveness, and coordination. METHODS: The household component of
the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used for this study. The
analysis primarily focused on subjects aged younger than 65 years who
identified a usual source of care. Logistic regressions were used to
examine the independent effects of insurance status on primary care
attributes while individual sociodemographic characteristics were
controlled for. RESULTS: The experience of primary care varies according to
insurance status. The insured are able to obtain better primary care than
the uninsured, and the privately insured are able to obtain better primary
care than the publicly insured. Those insured through fee-for-service
coverage experience better longitudinal care and less of a barrier to
access than those insured through health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
CONCLUSIONS: While expanding insurance coverage is important for
establishing access to care, efforts are needed to enhance the quality of
primary health care, particularly for the publicly insured. Policymakers
should closely monitor the quality of primary care provided by HMOs.