Insurance Type and Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among US Women
Main finding · History of MHT useResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 0.50 95% CI 0.28–0.87Authors' conclusion
In this cross-sectional study of women at typical age for menopause, Medicaid coverage was associated with significantly lower MHT use, suggesting that insurance type may play a role in menopausal care disparities. Insurance status may also partially explain previously observed racial gaps in MHT use.
Study context
- Population
- US women aged 45 to 64 years with Medicaid or private insurance coverage who were eligible for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014, 2015–2016 and 2017–2020 cycles; 91.4% private insurance, 8.6% Medicaid (weighted)unweighted
- Participants
- 1,666 women
- Exposure
- Medicaid vs private insurance
- Outcome
- MHT use (history of MHT use)
Methodological detailspopulation-based survey, survey-weighted, multivariable logistic regression, Statistical analyses performed between March 26, 2024, and December 2, 2025
- Population-based survey
- Survey-weighted
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Statistical analyses performed between March 26, 2024, and December 2, 2025
Main finding
History of MHT use
Odds ratio
0.50
95% CI 0.28–0.87
By group
Medicaidvs Private insurance
OR 0.50 (95% CI 0.28–0.87)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| MHT use by race: Black vs White participantsBlackvs White | OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.45–0.95) | |
| MHT use by race: Black vs White participantsBlackvs White | adjusted OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.50–1.04) | |
| 0.512Ratio (log scale) |
- MHT use by race: Black vs White participants: insurance status included in the model; difference attenuated
Original publication
Insurance Type and Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among US Women. JAMA Netw Open. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →