Table 3 Consumer Experience Applying for Health Insurance

Had a role in applying for health insurance

530 (56.4 %)

319 (64.4 %)

58 (61.7 %)

31 (59.6 %)

122 (40.8 %)

<0.001

 Difficult to figure out how to apply for insurance

128 (24.2 %)

82 (26.0 %)

21 (35.6 %)

11 (35.5 %)

14 (11.4 %)

<0.0005

 Difficult to complete application process

156 (29.9 %)

103 (33.1 %)

25 (42.4 %)

12 (38.7 %)

16 (13.2 %)

<0.0001

 Did not have information about health plans in primary language

57 (10.9 %)

32 (10.1 %)

11 (19.3 %)

6 (19.4 %)

8 (6.7 %)

0.031

 Tried to get plan information through a state telephone help line

78 (24.2 %)

38 (22 %)

18 (52.9 %)

13 (59.1 %)

9 (9.6 %)

<0.0001

 Information obtained from telephone helpline was somewhat or very helpful

168 (78.9 %)

116 (81.1 %)

25 (73.5 %)

17 (81.0 %)

10 (66.7 %)

0.4916

 Tried to get plan information by speaking with someone at a health center, hospital or community based organization

175 (19.4 %)

127 (26.9 %)

20 (22.2 %)

10 (19.6 %)

18 (6.2 %)

<0.0001

 Information obtained from person was somewhat or very helpful

168 (95.5 %)

123 (96.1 %)

20 (100 %)

10 (100 %)

15 (83.3 %)

0.0540

 Tried to get plan information through a plan or Health Connector website

121 (26.8 %)

53 (19.4 %)

20 (40.8 %)

13 (46.4 %)

35 (34.7 %)

<0.0001

 Information obtained from website was somewhat or very helpful

96 (77.4 %)

41 (75.9 %)

17 (85.0 %)

9 (69.2 %)

29 (78.4 %)

0.7424

Had to submit additional paperwork to keep insurance active

342 (42 %)

250 (57.9 %)

45 (59.2 %)

25 (58.1 %)

22 (8.4 %)

<0.0001

 Difficult to submit the paperwork needed to keep insurance active

112 (33.5 %)

77 (31.4 %)

19 (40.9 %)

7 (30.4 %)

10 (45.5 %)

0.382