Study Finds Lack of Health Insurance May Increase Risk of Health Decline for Late Middle-Aged Adults

A new study published in the Oct. 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found that a lack of health insurance may increase the risk of a decline in overall health for adults ages 51 to 61, Reuters/Contra Costa Times reports (Reuters/Contra Costa Times, 10/10). In the study, researchers analyzed 7,577 files from the Health and Retirement Study, a national survey of adults who were aged 51 to 61 in 1992, to determine the risks of a decline in health and the development of new physical problems, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, preexisting medical conditions and health-related behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use. Participants included 717 "continuously uninsured" adults who lacked health coverage in both 1992 and 1994; 825 "intermittently uninsured" adults who lacked health coverage in either 1992 or 1994; and 6,035 "continuously insured" adults who had health coverage in both years. The study found that 21.6% of continuously uninsured participants suffered a decline in health from 1992 to 1996, compared with only 8.3% of continuously insured participants. In addition, the study found that 28.8% of continuously uninsured participants developed new health problems, such as difficulty walking or climbing stairs, compared with only 17.1% of continuously insured participants. Researchers found that the "continuously uninsured participants were 63% more likely than the privately insured participants to have a decline in their overall health" and "23% more likely to have a new physical difficulty" (Baker et al., NEJM, 10/11). The rate of uninsured adults ages 55 to 64 increased from 12.9% in 1998 to 16.1% in 1999 (Reuters/Contra Costa Times, 10/10). According to researchers, "Renewed efforts at comprehensive reform of the U.S. system of health insurance may be needed to increase coverage among adults in late middle age" (NEJM, 10/11). An abstract of the study, titled, "Lack of Health Insurance and Decline in Overall Health in Late Middle Age," is available online.