932-P: Impact of Insurance Source on Health Care Transition Progress in College Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: The transition from pediatric to adult models of care can be challenging for adolescents with chronic diseases, like type 1 diabetes (T1D). Among the challenges they often face is the issue of health insurance, which can be difficult to navigate, and which may affect access to effective transitional care. In this study, we examined the impact of insurance source on healthcare transition (HCT) progress in college youth with T1D.

Methods: Data are from 138 respondents to a multi-national, web-based study of college youth with T1D recruited via social media platforms and direct outreach. Participants were asked to report their health insurance source and answer questions about the HCT process and their diabetes care team. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression were used to evaluate HCT measures as a function of sociodemographic variables, adjusting for confounders.

Results: Participants were from 85 universities across 30 states and Canada, and 87.0% were covered on a parent’s insurance plan. Those not covered on a parent’s insurance plan were more likely to list a general adult practitioner as their main diabetes care provider (22.2% vs. 8.3%, p=0.067) but were less likely to have received help with finding an adult provider than their counterparts (44.4% vs. 76.3%, p=0.042). Participants not covered on a parent’s insurance plan (vs. those who were) also were more likely to have discussed obtaining health insurance with their provider (61.1% vs. 25.0%, p=0.002). These differences persisted after adjustment.

Conclusion: College youth with T1D demonstrate differences in indicators of HCT progress according to insurance source. Lack of parental insurance may instigate independent - though not necessarily smooth - transitions, potentially leaving an increasing number of adolescents with dependent coverage vulnerable to a prolonged HCT. Efforts to improve the HCT process should consider insurance source to advance HCT preparation for all college youth with T1D.