Setting the bar: Assessing attitudes, knowledge and behaviors of Mississippi non-elderly adults at the beginning of ACA implementation

Background

In fall 2013, the Center for Mississippi Health Policy (the Center) commissioned researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to survey non-elderly Mississippi adults to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to health insurance and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The results of this survey provide a measurement regarding health insurance options and reform initiatives under the ACA that can serve as a baseline from which to gauge change over time.

Methods

The telephone survey instrument, developed in collaboration between the Center and UAB and based on a literature review of previous surveys on health coverage, was administered by UAB in September and October 2013. Analysis produced a weighted representative sample of non-elderly Mississippi adults.

Results/Discussion

The findings illustrate lack of knowledge about the Health Insurance Marketplace and the open enrollment period, particularly among uninsured adults in Mississippi. These results provide insight into possible reasons for the low enrollment rate. In the first months of open enrollment, Mississippi had very low participation rates in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Of approximately 275,000 Mississippians projected to enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014, only 8,045 individuals in the state had selected a Marketplace plan by the end of December 2013. While the uninsured value health insurance coverage and indicate interest in potentially buying coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, knowledge and cost barriers must be overcome in order to increase participation. Monitoring knowledge, attitudes and behaviors over time will help target outreach.