Among working-age adults with chronic conditions, the uninsured report worse health status than those who are privately insured, but better health status than Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. (Because of public program eligibility requirements, all Medicare beneficiaries and many Medicaid beneficiaries in this age group have severe disabilities.)
| SF-12 index a | Percent reporting fair or poor health | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Component Summary Score | Mental Component Summary Score | ||
| Privately insured | 48.1 | 51.2 | 15 |
| Publicly insured | |||
| Medicare * | 33.2 | 43.5 | 62 |
| Medicaid/other public * |
40.4 | 42.8 | 48 |
| Uninsured * | 44.3 | 46.1 | 36 |
* All differences from estimates for privately insured population are statistically significant at P<.05 level.
a. The short form (SF-12) is an index of physical and mental health status based on answers to 12 questions about different aspects of health. The index was developed so that the average score for the adult U.S. population is 50. Higher scores indicate better health.
Source: HSC Community Tracking Study Household Survey, 1998-99
These results are linked to the analysis in Tu, Ha T. and Marie C. Reed, Options for Expanding Health Insurance for People with Chronic Conditions, Issue Brief No. 50, Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington, D.C. (February 2002).