Low-Income Diabetic Patients Face Greater Insurance Instability, Study Finds

A new study led by Oregon Health & Science University reveals that adults with diabetes from low-income backgrounds are at higher risk of experiencing frequent health insurance disruptions. The research analyzed electronic health records from over 300,000 adults, aged 19 to 64, who received care at community-based health centers between 2014 and 2019. It was found that individuals with diabetes were 25% more likely to lose their insurance coverage compared to those without the condition. This risk was even higher among patients with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, complicated medication routines, or diabetes-related complications.

Insurance instability, often termed "churn," was identified when patients who previously had coverage visited clinicians at least twice without insurance. Alarmingly, nearly half of those with diabetes who lost Medicaid coverage did not regain it, and about 61% of those who lost private insurance remained uninsured afterward. Researchers expressed concern over these findings, emphasizing that most individuals who lose eligibility for insurance do not reacquire coverage, a situation worsened by recent disenrollments from Medicaid following the end of the pandemic public health emergency.

Dr. Nathalie Huguet, the study's lead author, noted that these findings challenge previous assumptions, as it's expected that individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes would actively participate in maintaining their insurance. The study highlights the vulnerability of those with complex medical needs to losing continuous coverage and stresses the importance of policies that support sustained enrollment. She advocates for more nuanced strategies to prevent abrupt disenrollments and ensure access to consistent healthcare, especially given the current environment of high Medicaid disenrollment rates.

The research underscores the urgent need for policymakers to consider safeguarding mechanisms that help high-risk populations retain their insurance coverage, ultimately aiming to reduce emergency room visits and improve health outcomes for vulnerable groups.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-income-patients-diabetes-instability.html