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| Health Insurance Literacy And Its Implications For Access To Care: A Systematic Literature Review |
Leslie A. Bridgman, BS, MHI and Bruce Lazar, MBA, DM
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Abstract:
The United States (US) has one of the most complicated healthcare finance systems in the world. Health insurance is a complex financial product that requires a high level of literacy (HIL) and continuous engagement. Understanding and addressing the health insurance literacy of adult consumers' in the US is a crucial endeavor in this ever-changing healthcare environment. HIL is the degree of knowledge, ability, and confidence needed to find and evaluate health insurance plans, select the best one to meet their needs, and utilize it once enrolled. This systematic literature review aimed to determine whether the use of educational interventions for health insurance literacy among adult minorities and those living at a low socioeconomic status improves access to and care utilization. A search transpired using the PubMed/Medline and Complementary Index academic databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data from 20 relevant articles were meticulously analyzed using screening criteria that revolved around the research question, and five themes emerged during the process. The themes included the effectiveness of educational interventions to improve literacy, the significance of choosing and navigating insurance plans effectively, the impact of HIL on access to care, the impact of HIL on the utilization of care and the impact of HIL on the effective use of healthcare services and health insurance. The findings of this study imply that health insurance literacy educational interventions can improve the health insurance literacy of adult minorities and those of low socioeconomic status and ultimately increase their access to and utilization of care.
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