Barriers to timely screening colonoscopy: the role of health insurance.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening based on health insurance status.

METHOD

We reviewed 382 medical records of asymptomatic patients aged 50-80 years, who completed their screening colonoscopies between January 2000 and May 2007. Medical records were abstracted from a private primary-care clinic and a university hospital primary-care clinic. Patients with private or public health insurance were included. General linear model and t-test were performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

We found that the average waiting time for screening colonoscopy among privately insured patients was significantly lower than for publicly insured patients (33 vs 200 days; P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in gender or age between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

There is an urgent need for state-wide health-care policy reform to help reduce some of the observed causes of health-care disparities based on the insurance status of individuals.