Fewer than half of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) adults disclose their sexual orientation to their health provider, according to new survey results released by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive. In addition, the survey showed that GLBT respondents are also less likely to have health insurance than their non-gay counterparts.
'We are dismayed to learn how the 'closet' puts gays and lesbians at risk in speaking honestly with their doctor or primary healthcare provider,' said Darin Johnson, Vice President of Witeck-Combs Communications. 'Stigma and the potential for discrimination has, for years, been a major obstacle for lesbians and gays seeking appropriate healthcare.'
Some key findings from the survey:
— Overall, 49% of GLBT respondents said they had discussed their sexual orientation with their healthcare provider.
— Only 23% of those self-identifying as bisexual had disclosed their sexual orientation to their doctor or healthcare provider while 55% of lesbians and 67% of gay men had discussed their sexual orientation.
— GLBT adults have visited a healthcare professional with almost the same frequency as their non-gay counterparts in the last 12 months (84% GLBT versus 83% heterosexual).
'This survey is an important wake-up call for the medical establishment,' said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project, the national lesbian health organization. 'We all know that disclosing your sexual orientation to your healthcare provider is extremely important to obtaining the best healthcare, but the majority of GLBT people are not going to do that unless we feel safe and respected in the healthcare environment. This survey shows that if doctors and nurses are truly committed to providing the best care to all their patients, they need to increase their awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of their GLBT clients.'
Less health insurance coverage among GLBT community
When respondents were asked if they have health insurance, only 70% of GLBT adults said they currently have coverage, compared to 86% of non-gay adults. According to a May 2002 report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the uninsured receive less preventive care, are diagnosed at more advanced disease stages, tend to receive less therapeutic care (drugs and surgical interventions) once diagnosed; and, if they did have health insurance, the Commission reports that mortality rates for the uninsured would be reduced by 10 to 15 percent.
Of those who reported that they have insurance, 63% of GLBT adults are covered through their employer compared to 59% of non-gay adults. The survey also illustrates a difference between opposite-sex and same-sex couple health insurance benefits. Of the GLBT respondents, only three percent said they receive health insurance through a same-sex partner while a greater number (14%) of non-gay adults stated they are covered by a partner's insurance.
