Effects of Managed Health Insurance on Physical and Emotional Well-Being

Abstract

A random sample of insured adults (n=134) tests the effects of insurance on respondents’ emotional and physical health. Results showed that being married and being widowed improved physical health while having no religious identification heralded less emotional distress. Preferred Provider Organization services satisfaction was related to better physical health. Respondents in households that restructured themselves to acquire or maintain health coverage also reported more emotional distress than those in households without such problems. Implications of our results regarding improving insurance programs and the effects of marital status and the lack of religious affiliation upon adults’ health are discussed.

Citation

Clayton Smith, D., Grimm, J.W. and Brewster, Z.W. (2005), "Effects of Managed Health Insurance on Physical and Emotional Well-Being", Jacobs Kronenfeld, J. (Ed.) Health Care Services, Racial and Ethnic Minorities and Underserved Populations: Patient and Provider Perspectives (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 23), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 133-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0275-4959(05)23007-7