The Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Access Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years With Chronic Health Conditions in the United States, 2011-2017

Context: The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) eliminated the restrictions on preexisting conditions for health care coverage. Little is known about the effects of the ACA on health care access among individuals with chronic health conditions. Objective: To determine how the implementations of the ACA affected health care access for adults with chronic health conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data from respondents aged 18 to 64 years to the 2011-2017 nationally representative Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) who reported preexisting chronic health conditions (n = 1 133 609). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the changes in health care access from 2011-2013 (before the ACA) to 2015-2017 (after the ACA), overall and by sociodemographic groups. Main Outcomes Measures: Self-reported access to health care coverage, skipped doctor visits because of cost issues, and having a routine checkup in the past 12 months. Results: The percentage of adults with chronic health conditions having no health care coverage declined from 19.7% before the ACA to 11.9% after the ACA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.5], P
Source: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - Category: Health Management Tags: Research Brief Report Source Type: research