Skip to main content
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1989 May;79(5):640–642. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.5.640

How free care improved vision in the health insurance experiment.

N Lurie 1, C J Kamberg 1, R H Brook 1, E B Keeler 1, J P Newhouse 1
PMCID: PMC1349513  PMID: 2705602

Abstract

We studied reasons for the improvement in the functional vision of enrollees receiving free care in the Rand Health Insurance Experiment. Among low income enrollees, 78 per cent on the free plan and 59 per cent on the cost-sharing plans had an eye examination; the proportions of those obtaining lenses were 30 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Visual acuity outcomes of low income vs non-poor enrollees were more adversely affected by enrollment in cost-sharing plans. Free care resulted in improved vision by increasing the frequency of eye examinations and lens purchases.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brook R. H., Ware J. E., Jr, Rogers W. H., Keeler E. B., Davies A. R., Donald C. A., Goldberg G. A., Lohr K. N., Masthay P. C., Newhouse J. P. Does free care improve adults' health? Results from a randomized controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1983 Dec 8;309(23):1426–1434. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198312083092305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Keeler E. B., Brook R. H., Goldberg G. A., Kamberg C. J., Newhouse J. P. How free care reduced hypertension in the health insurance experiment. JAMA. 1985 Oct 11;254(14):1926–1931. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Newhouse J. P., Manning W. G., Morris C. N., Orr L. L., Duan N., Keeler E. B., Leibowitz A., Marquis K. H., Marquis M. S., Phelps C. E. Some interim results from a controlled trial of cost sharing in health insurance. N Engl J Med. 1981 Dec 17;305(25):1501–1507. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198112173052504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES