Objective: To evaluate whether part-year or year-round uninsurance is associated with reduced likelihood of using prescription contraception methods rather than using nonprescription methods or using no contraceptive methods. Methods: We identified nonpregnant and sexually active female respondents participating in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort between 2007 and 2019. At each interview, we classified the contraceptive method used most frequently as prescription, nonprescription, or none, and used mixed-effects multinomial logistic regression to predict contraceptive method based on health insurance coverage over the past year (classified as continuous private, continuous public, part-year uninsured, or year-round uninsured). Results: Our sample included 3,738 respondents and 18,678 observations (person-years). In the most recent interview, 35% of respondents used prescription contraception, 16% used nonprescription methods only, and 49% used no method. On multivariable analysis using all available years of data, respondents with part-year uninsurance were 20% less likely to use prescription rather than nonprescription methods, as compared to respondents with continuous private insurance (95% confidence interval: -31%, -6%; p = 0.007), but did not differ on the likelihood of using prescription methods rather than no method. Conclusions: Part-year uninsurance was associated with lower use of prescription contraceptive methods rather than nonprescription methods when compared with continuous private insurance coverage. Use of prescription contraceptives was lowest among people with year-round uninsurance. Policy efforts ensuring continuous insurance coverage with greater flexibility of eligibility and enrollment periods may promote greater access to prescription contraceptives.
Keywords: health insurance; insurance gaps; prescription contraception; preventive care.