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BMC Health Services Research
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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

The impact of insurance status on psoriasis patients’ healthcare-seeking behavior: a population-based study in the United States

Authors: Kaviyon Sadrolashrafi, Audrey Hao, Rebecca K. Yamamoto, Lily Guo, Robin Kikuchi, Hannah C. Tolson, Sara N. Bilimoria, Danielle K. Yee, April W. Armstrong

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition requiring long-term care. However, many psoriasis patients may not regularly receive care. Several factors affect access to care in the United States, including health insurance status. Additionally, it is unknown how health insurance status impacts the healthcare-seeking behavior of psoriasis patients. Healthcare-seeking behavior is broadly defined as an individual’s actions to prevent or treat a perceived health problem, such as visiting a physician’s office. Because early diagnosis and timely treatment improve patient outcomes, determining how insurance status impacts psoriasis patients’ healthcare-seeking behavior and their ability to get care is important. This allows us to identify patients at risk for being untreated or undertreated. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between insurance status and (1) the degree to which psoriasis patients delay seeking or receiving care and (2) the degree to which psoriasis patients are unable to obtain care.

Methods

This population-based study used 20 years of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2002 to 2021. We calculated descriptive statistics and performed adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

We identified a weighted total of 4,506,850 psoriasis patients. Compared to those with private insurance, psoriasis patients with public-only insurance were 2.7 times more likely to delay seeking or receiving care (95% CI, 1.26–5.87). Compared to private insurance patients, uninsured psoriasis patients were 3.4 times more likely to be unable to obtain care (95% CI, 1.31–8.92). Compared to those with public-only insurance, uninsured psoriasis patients were 3.7 times more likely to be unable to obtain care (95% CI, 1.32–10.38).

Conclusions

This study found that psoriasis patients with public-only insurance were significantly more likely to delay seeking or receiving care compared to those with private insurance. This study also found that uninsured psoriasis patients were significantly more likely to be unable to obtain care than psoriasis patients with private insurance and those with public-only insurance. Developing strategies to increase healthcare access is necessary to ensure equitable, timely, and appropriate care for all psoriasis patients, regardless of their insurance status.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of insurance status on psoriasis patients’ healthcare-seeking behavior: a population-based study in the United States
Authors
Kaviyon Sadrolashrafi
Audrey Hao
Rebecca K. Yamamoto
Lily Guo
Robin Kikuchi
Hannah C. Tolson
Sara N. Bilimoria
Danielle K. Yee
April W. Armstrong
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11992-z

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