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What people really know about their health insurance: A comparison of information obtained from individuals and their insurers

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  • Nelson, D.E.
  • Thompson, B.L.
  • Davenport, N.J.
  • Penaloza, L.J.

Abstract

Objectives. This study determined the validity of self-reported data on selected health insurance characteristics. Methods. We obtained telephone survey data on the presence of health insurance, source of insurance, length of time insured, and type of insurance (managed care or fee-for-service) from a random sample of 351 adults in 3 Wisconsin counties and compared findings with data from respondents health insurers. Results. More than 97% of the respondents correctly reported that they were currently insured. For source of insurance among persons aged 18 to 64 years, sensitivity was high for those covered through private health insurance (93.8%) but low for those covered through public insurance (6.7%). Only 33.1% of the respondents accurately categorized length of enrollment in their current plan. Overall estimates for managed care enrollment were similar for the 2 sources, but individual validity was low: 84.2% of those in fee-for-service believed that they were in managed care. Conclusions. Information obtained from the general population about whether they have health insurance is valid, but self- reported data on source of insurance, length of time insured, and type of insurance are suspect and should be used cautiously.

Suggested Citation

  • Nelson, D.E. & Thompson, B.L. & Davenport, N.J. & Penaloza, L.J., 2000. "What people really know about their health insurance: A comparison of information obtained from individuals and their insurers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(6), pages 924-928.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2000:90:6:924-928_4
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    Cited by:

    1. Loewenstein, George & Friedman, Joelle Y. & McGill, Barbara & Ahmad, Sarah & Linck, Suzanne & Sinkula, Stacey & Beshears, John & Choi, James J. & Kolstad, Jonathan & Laibson, David & Madrian, Brigitte, 2013. "Consumers’ misunderstanding of health insurance," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 850-862.
    2. Brent Kreider & Steven C. Hill, 2009. "Partially Identifying Treatment Effects with an Application to Covering the Uninsured," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(2).
    3. Ha Trong Nguyen & Huong Thu Le & Luke Connelly & Francis Mitrou, 2023. "Accuracy of self‐reported private health insurance coverage," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2709-2729, December.
    4. Brent Kreider & Richard J. Manski & John Moeller & John Pepper, 2015. "The Effect of Dental Insurance on the Use of Dental Care for Older Adults: A Partial Identification Analysis," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(7), pages 840-858, July.
    5. Reiner Leidl, 2008. "A model to decompose the performance of supplementary private health insurance markets," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 193-208, September.
    6. Pascale Joanne & Fertig Angela & Call Kathleen, 2019. "Validation of Two Federal Health Insurance Survey Modules After Affordable Care Act Implementation," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 35(2), pages 409-460, June.

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