Financial and Health Insurance Literacy: A Necessary Addition to Health Literacy Programming

The enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expansion of Medicaid means that many more consumers are eligible for health insurance coverage, some for the first time. Health insurance has become increasingly complex and consumer-driven, and patients are now responsible for researching and choosing a plan appropriate for their needs. Individuals who struggle with health literacy may face additional challenges in understanding financial and insurance concepts. Deficits in health insurance and financial literacy correlate to poor health outcomes and increased expenditures for patients, similar to those with limited health literacy. Patient advocates and other agencies should consider financial and insurance literacy assessment along with health literacy education.