(LB03-03-25) Food Insecurity, HIV and Health Insurance

Objectives: Food insecurity is found to be higher among individuals enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare, which are the largest sources of health coverage among older people living with HIV (PLWH). Thus, this study will explore how food security status differs between older PLWH who have Medicaid and Medicare.

Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey conducted in Newark, New Jersey from September 2023 to January 2024 among older PLWH. Bivariate analyses and chi-square tests were performed to investigate the association between health insurance coverage and food security status.

Results: Approximately, 24 participants completed the survey. The average age was 62.08 years (SD = 6.24). 47.8% (n = 11) self-reported Medicaid as their primary healthcare insurance coverage, whereas 43.5% (n = 10) have Medicare. Most respondents on Medicaid and Medicare self-reported an annual household income of $20,000 or less (45.8%, n = 11), and Medicaid recipients have long-term disability (54.5%, n = 6), while Medicare users are retired (n = 5). At least 60% (n = 6) of Medicaid recipients were found to be food insecure, compared with 46.2% (n = 6) of Medicare recipients who were food secure. However, the relationship between health insurance coverage and food security was not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.545).

Conclusions: Given that Medicaid, unlike Medicare, is directly tied to income, it is crucial to explore how health insurance coverage influences food security status and the overall health among long term survivors of HIV. The availability and quality of health insurance can significantly affect an individual's access nutritious food, thereby impacting their overall health and well-being.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by the New Jersey Health Foundation.