Alicia L Nobles1, Brett A Curtis2, Duc A Ngo3, Emily Vardell4, Christopher P Holstege3,5. 1. a Department of Systems and Information Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , Virginia , USA. 2. b Department of Human Services, Curry School of Education , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , Virginia , USA. 3. c Department of Student Health, Division of Student Affairs , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , Virginia , USA. 4. d School of Library and Information Management , Emporia State University , Emporia , Kansas , USA. 5. e Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, School of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , Virginia , USA.
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.
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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Access to care; decision-making; health education; health insurance literacy; health literacy; insurance