UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

The profile of California’s 17.7 million children and adults who are enrolled in HMO plans is more diverse than previously thought, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research report. The report provides a more refined population-based profile of California’s HMO population than has previously been available, using data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2001). The report findings suggest that differences in language fluency and educational attainment of California’s HMO population present potential barriers for some HMO members in understanding HMO policies and programs. Funded by the California Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA), the report provides statewide and regional profiles of HMO enrollees and their socioeconomic characteristics, medical conditions and health status, health risk factors, and access to and utilization of health care. Key demographic findings about HMO enrollees statewide include: * Twenty-seven percent (27%) are immigrants, including 15% who are naturalized citizens and 12% who are noncitizens; * Thirty-four percent (34%) communicate at home in a language other than English or solely in another language; * Thirty-five percent (35%) of adults ages 18-64 and 45% of adults ages 65 and over have a high-school education or less; and, * Forty-one percent (41%) are nonwhite, including 19% Latino, 12% Asian American and Pacific Islander, and 7% African American.