Job loss and unmet health care needs in the economic recession: Different associations by family income

J. Huang, J. Birkenmaier and Y. Kim

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, e178-e183

Abstract: Objectives. We examined heterogeneous associations between job loss and unmet health care needs by family income level in the recent economic recession. Methods. We conducted logistic regression analyses with the sample from the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (n = 12 658). Dependent variables were 2 dichotomous measures of unmet health care needs in medical and dental services. The primary independent variables were a dummy indicator of job loss during a 2-year period and the family income-To-needs ratio. We used an interaction term between job loss and the family income-To-needs ratio to test the proposed research question. Results. Job loss was significantly associated with the increased risk of unmet health care needs. The proportion with unmet needs was highest for the lowest-income unemployed, but the association between job loss and health hardship was stronger for the middle- And higher-income unemployed. Conclusions. The unemployed experience health hardship differently by income level. A comprehensive coordination of applications for unemployment and health insurance should be considered to protect the unemployed from health hardship.

Keywords: coordination; dental procedure; dependent variable; economic recession; family income; health care need; health insurance; human; independent variable; logistic regression analysis; lowest income group; major clinical study; unemployment; adult; economic recession; economics; epidemiology; family; female; health care delivery; health service; income; male; statistical model; statistics and numerical data; United States; utilization, Adult; Economic Recession; Family; Female; Health Services; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Income; Logistic Models; Male; Unemployment; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301998_6

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301998

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