According to a recent American survey conducted by global market research company Harris Interactive, almost one in four gay and lesbian adults lack health insurance. They are also nearly twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to have no health insurance coverage. Compared to only 12 percent of heterosexual adults in the survey, 22 percent of gay and lesbian survey respondents reported having no health insurance.

The new study was completed online between April 7 and 15, 2008 by 2,710 U.S. adults, (ages 18 and over), 343 of which self identified as gay or lesbian, by Harris Interactive, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the GLBT market.

Peter Francel CEBS, Head of Sales-Product Group for Aetna, spoke of this unfortunate statistical outcome. “We know the problem of the uninsured has reached crisis proportions in this country and, unfortunately, this survey shows that the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community is today at greater risk. What GLBT households and all Americans deserve and need is affordable access to quality health care that results in positive outcomes and facilitates prevention, wellness and chronic care coordination,”

“We must step up all efforts to serve the uninsured and take the lead in transforming our health care system for not only our GLBT members but all those who are not covered by health insurance today,” he added, noting that Aetna have earned a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index since 2002’s due to their GLBT friendly workplace policies.

When asked about factors that influence their likelihood to consider specific health insurers, almost the same number of gay and lesbian adults said that it was important to them that the health insurance company provide domestic partner health coverage for companies to whom they supply health insurance (85%) and to their own employees (84%).

Also, 79 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported that seeing that a health insurance company provides information about insurance products and speaks to gay persons with images of gay and lesbian people would be an important factor on their likelihood of considering the company’s health insurance products. Assuming factors such as price, quality, and convenience were not considerations, 78 percent of gay and lesbian respondents said they would be likely to consider an insurance provider or plan that was marketing to the GLBT community and 67 percent said they would be likely to consider a health insurer if they knew that the agent selling the health insurance plan also was openly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

“Studies consistently show that gay and lesbian consumers are far more likely to focus their spending on companies that sensitively and specifically reach out to them,” said Colleen Dermody, Vice President of Witeck-Combs Communications. “GLBT consumers place a high value on brands, including health insurance companies, that earn and grow respect within the community. GLBT consumers are among the most motivated to ‘vote’ with their dollars and to seek out brands they believe to be very friendly and supportive of the GLBT community.”

More information on the methodology of the study can be found at www.harrisinteractive.com

Tags: gay, health, lesbian