Overview

This study examines participation in a temporary health care program set up for for workers in New York City's Chinatown neighborhood who were affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Based on 12 focus groups with enrollees and non-enrollees, the authors identified the following key factors in residents' decisions to participate: source of information (many relied on trusted friends, family, or coworkers for information); prior experience with health insurance (enrollees were more than twice as likely to have had past insurance coverage than non-enrollees); and immediate health needs. When implementing similar programs in the future, the authors recommend that officials: 1) complete a community needs assessment to ensure health insurance access for underserved groups; 2) conduct comprehensive community health education campaigns; 3) provide automatic enrollment; 4) provide continuing coverage for enrollees with no alternatives when the program ends; and 5) streamline the enrollment process into public and other health insurance programs.