Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health
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Hawaii J Med Public Health · Dec 2016
Impact of Helmet Use on Injury and Financial Burden of Motorcycle and Moped Crashes in Hawai'i: Analysis of a Linked Statewide Database.
Helmet use reduces injury severity, disability, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges in motorcycle riders. The public absorbs billions of dollars annually in hospital charges for unhelmeted, uninsured motorcycle riders. We sought to quantify, on a statewide level, the healthcare burden of unhelmeted motorcycle and moped riders. ⋯ Unhelmeted riders were twice as likely to self-pay (19.3%, versus 9.8% of helmeted riders), and more likely to have Medicaid or a similar income-qualifying insurance plan (13.5% versus 5.0%, respectively). Protective associations with helmet use are stronger among motorcyclists than moped riders, suggesting the protective effect is augmented in higher speed crashes. The public financial burden is higher from unhelmeted riders who sustain more severe injuries and are less likely to be insured.