Unclaimed health care benefits: a mixed-method analysis of rural veterans

Stacy Wittrock; Sarah Ono; Kenda Stewart; Heather Schacht Reisinger; Mary Charlton

doi:10.1111/jrh.12082

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Unclaimed health care benefits: a mixed-method analysis of rural veterans

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Unclaimed health care benefits: a mixed-method analysis of rural veterans

Stacy Wittrock, Sarah Ono, Kenda Stewart, Heather Schacht Reisinger and Mary Charlton

The Journal of rural health, Vol.31(1), pp.35-46

2015

DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12082

PMID: 25052886

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Abstract

Rural areas contribute a disproportionate number of US military recruits compared to urban areas. However, few studies have examined why many rural veterans do not enroll in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for health care. Our objective was to elicit reasons rural veterans chose not to use VHA. This mixed-methods study included quantitative survey and qualitative interview data. Surveys were mailed to 4,176 households with a registered voter in a rural Midwestern county to reach the estimated 1,100 veterans, of whom 600 were not enrolled in VHA. Surveys were designed to assess demographics and basic eligibility requirements for VHA. Themes were derived deductively from survey responses and inductively as they emerged through analysis of interview transcripts. A total of 180 veterans completed the survey and 165 were eligible based on an approximation of enrollment criteria. Of those, 74 (45%) were current VHA users, and 91 (55%) were nonusers of VHA but appeared to be eligible. The most common reason selected by these potentially eligible veterans for not using VHA was they did not think they were eligible (41%). Interviews revealed the issue of distance was superseded by the perception that enrollees must be poor and have experienced combat, injury, or disability during service. Most reported they had never been told about VHA health care benefits. Results suggest that lack of awareness of VHA health care benefits may be the biggest barrier identified by rural veterans. Targeted outreach and education efforts related to eligibility for rural veterans are warranted.

United States

Rural Population - statistics & numerical data

Humans

Middle Aged

Veterans - psychology

Aged, 80 and over

Surveys and Questionnaires

United States Department of Veterans Affairs - utilization

Aged

Veterans - statistics & numerical data

Insurance Benefits - statistics & numerical data

Qualitative Research

Health Services Accessibility - standards

United States Department of Veterans Affairs - statistics & numerical data

Details

Title: Subtitle: Unclaimed health care benefits: a mixed-method analysis of rural veterans
Creators: Stacy Wittrock - VHA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center - Central Region, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
Sarah Ono
Kenda Stewart
Heather Schacht Reisinger
Mary Charlton
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Journal of rural health, Vol.31(1), pp.35-46
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12082
PMID: 25052886
NLM abbreviation: J Rural Health
ISSN: 0890-765X
eISSN: 1748-0361
Publisher: England
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000738, name: Department of Veterans Affairs; name: Veterans Health Administration; name: Office of Rural Health; name: Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Central Region; name: Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service through the Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) Center, award: REA 09-220
Language: English
Date published: 2015
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Center for Social Science Innovation; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983995056102771

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