Reports Summarize Insurance Study Results from Korea University (Medicare Advantage Enrollment By Immigration and English Proficiency Status): Insurance

Health Policy and Law Daily

2024 MAR 21 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health Policy and Law Daily -- Current study results on Insurance have been published. According to news reporting originating in Seoul, South Korea, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Complex Medicare Advantage (MA) health plan choices may overwhelm immigrants, especially for those facing decision -making constraints due to limited English proficiency (LEP). We examined the trends and patterns of MA enrollment by immigration and English proficiency status.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Korea University, “We employed a cross-sectional design using data from the 2008-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Our outcome was enrollment in an MA plan. Our primary independent variables were immigration and English proficiency status. We categorized the sample into 3 groups: LEP immigrants, non-LEP immigrants, and US -born residents. After adjusting for individual -level characteristics, we estimated the adjusted rates of MA enrollment for each group. Our adjusted analysis showed that MA enrollment was higher among immigrants than US -born residents, but the highest enrollment was found among LEP immigrants (LEP immigrants: 45.5%; 95% CI, 42.7%-48.2%; non-LEP immigrants: 42.1%; 95% CI, 39.4%-44.8%; US -born residents: 35.1%; 95% CI, 34.5%-35.6%). MA enrollment was higher among LEP immigrants with better health status (good self -reported health: 45.4%; 95% CI, 41.9%-48.8%; poor self -reported health: 41.4%; 95% CI, 37.7%-45.1%). However, we found small to no differences in the adjusted rates of MA enrollment between those with good vs poor self -reported health in both the non-LEP immigrants and US -born residents groups. We found no consistent enrollment patterns by socioeconomic status such as race/ ethnicity, education, and income. Our findings suggest higher MA enrollment among immigrants, especially for LEP immigrants.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Future research should study the care experience of immigrants in MA.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Medicare Advantage Enrollment By Immigration and English Proficiency Status. The American Journal of Managed Care, 2023;29(9). The American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: Managed Care & Healthcare Communications Llc, 666 Plainsboro Rd, Ste 300, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Sungchul Park, Korea University, College of Health and Science, Dept. of Health Policy and Management, 145 Anam Ro, Seoul 02841, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include David J. Meyers, Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez and Arturo Vargas Bustamante.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.89432. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)