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Abstract:
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Reproductive health care, including contraceptive care, is a central part of an appropriate health care regimen for women of childbearing age, yet women may face significant barriers to this care. While previous research has evaluated the effect of insurance on access to a range of health care services, little attention has been focused directly on contraceptive services, and in particular, access to contraception by low-income women, who may face barriers different from their higher-income counterparts. Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth is used to test whether receipt of a contraception method or prescription from a health care provider differs by insurance status for low-income women. The analysis uses observations from 2,505 non-sterile women age 15 to 44 with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Logistic regression found being insured positively associated with receiving a contraceptive or prescription. Controlling for personal, childbearing and relationship characteristics, the odds of receipt were 1.9 times larger for Medicaid-insured women and 1.7 times larger for privately-insured women, compared to the uninsured. There was no statistically significant difference between Medicaid and private insurance. Results suggest that policies seeking to increase access to insurance may significantly improve access to contraception. For the uninsured, policymakers should consider increasing the availability of free or subsidized reproductive health care. |