Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers
California farmworkers experience lower health outcomes and underutilize health services compared with the general population, impacting their well-being and farm productivity. Employer sponsored health insurance facilitates access to health services and represents one method for improving farmworke...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2025-02-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.129400 |
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| _version_ | 1832540520638840832 |
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| author | Malcolm Hobbs Monica Cooper |
| author_facet | Malcolm Hobbs Monica Cooper |
| author_sort | Malcolm Hobbs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | California farmworkers experience lower health outcomes and underutilize health services compared with the general population, impacting their well-being and farm productivity. Employer sponsored health insurance facilitates access to health services and represents one method for improving farmworker health outcomes, but more knowledge is needed to promote employee uptake and utilization. From 2021 to 2023, we surveyed 497 vineyard workers in Napa County on their views of health insurance. Offering insurance has a large impact on benefits satisfaction. However, satisfaction is limited and uptake low when employers contribute less than 80% to the annual premium. This is principally because when the cost to them is greater, farm employees opt out of health insurance to avoid wage reductions to prioritize other essential living costs. Seasonal workers opt out at especially high rates because they are offered the lowest employer premium contributions and are simultaneously the lowest earners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a7f966bb8a046ad959fe2aaeab4a788 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| record_format | Article |
| series | California Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a7f966bb8a046ad959fe2aaeab4a7882025-02-04T21:51:55ZengUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia Agriculture0008-08452160-80912025-02-01Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkersMalcolm HobbsMonica CooperCalifornia farmworkers experience lower health outcomes and underutilize health services compared with the general population, impacting their well-being and farm productivity. Employer sponsored health insurance facilitates access to health services and represents one method for improving farmworker health outcomes, but more knowledge is needed to promote employee uptake and utilization. From 2021 to 2023, we surveyed 497 vineyard workers in Napa County on their views of health insurance. Offering insurance has a large impact on benefits satisfaction. However, satisfaction is limited and uptake low when employers contribute less than 80% to the annual premium. This is principally because when the cost to them is greater, farm employees opt out of health insurance to avoid wage reductions to prioritize other essential living costs. Seasonal workers opt out at especially high rates because they are offered the lowest employer premium contributions and are simultaneously the lowest earners.https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.129400 |
| spellingShingle | Malcolm Hobbs Monica Cooper Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers California Agriculture |
| title | Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| title_full | Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| title_fullStr | Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| title_short | Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| title_sort | uptake utilization and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.129400 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malcolmhobbs uptakeutilizationandsatisfactionwithemployersponsoredhealthinsuranceinapopulationofvineyardfarmworkers AT monicacooper uptakeutilizationandsatisfactionwithemployersponsoredhealthinsuranceinapopulationofvineyardfarmworkers |