A quantitative and qualitative analysis of health care coverage and concerns in Western Wisconsin

Abstract

In this project we will report on health care coverage and health care concerns of Western Wisconsin residents by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data reflecting health care experiences of individuals who identify themselves as well-insured, underinsured or uninsured. The Coalition for Wisconsin Health and the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) have both expressed interest in the results of this research to guide the policy debate as Wisconsin moves forward with health care reform efforts. We have received permission to use an AARP survey on health care coverage employed by the state of Vermont prior to their recent state health care reform initiatives and have adapted this survey slightly to meet our specific needs. We hope this process will lead to meaningful comparisons between Vermont and Wisconsin thereby providing valuable information to policymakers. Although we have no initial data to report, our poster describes our research in detail setting the stage for our data collection and analysis in the summer 2007. This project serves to connect the university to the community by ensuring that health care reform decisions are informed by current research, while also providing excellent hands-on experience in data collection and analysis for students.