Health Insurance Coverage Predicts Health Care Use among Latine Immigrants in Two Policy Contexts

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2024;35(2):481-502.

Abstract

This study analyzed electronic health record (EHR) data from 2016 through 2019 from a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving predominantly low-income Latine immigrants in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to examine how changes in health insurance coverage relate to changes in health care use. Federally qualified health center clients were insured for an average of 59% to 63% of their annual visits, but about one-third had no coverage throughout the year. Findings from descriptive regression and within-client fixed effects models indicate that in years with higher proportions of insured visits, clients averaged more medical visits and interpreter services but fewer mental health and care coordination visits. Latine immigrant clients in D.C., a city with a universal health insurance option, had health insurance coverage for 89% of their visits, and averaged more medical and fewer coordination visits relative to those in a neighboring county in a state without a universal insurance option.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • District of Columbia
  • Emigrants and Immigrants* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Hispanic or Latino* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage* / statistics & numerical data
  • Insurance, Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Poverty
  • Young Adult