Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65

Disabled people under age 65 are a vulnerable and growing segment of the Medicare population, yet Medicare reform has focused on the needs of the aged. This study linked the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to Social Security Administration records to analyze patterns of health care for disabled...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gerald F. Riley, James D. Lubitz, Nancy Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2003-02-01
Series:Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5034/inquiryjrnl_40.1.71
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author Gerald F. Riley
James D. Lubitz
Nancy Zhang
author_facet Gerald F. Riley
James D. Lubitz
Nancy Zhang
author_sort Gerald F. Riley
collection DOAJ
description Disabled people under age 65 are a vulnerable and growing segment of the Medicare population, yet Medicare reform has focused on the needs of the aged. This study linked the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to Social Security Administration records to analyze patterns of health care for disabled beneficiaries by reason for disability. We found substantial variation in average health care costs by type of service, including prescription drugs, and in sources of payment. Rates of institutionalization were high among some disability categories and there was heavy reliance on Medicaid and other public programs for payment. It is essential that the special needs of the disabled not be overlooked as policymakers consider fundamental modifications to Medicare and Medicaid.
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spelling doaj.art-df2ee6cbed8042edb3f725a747e39dd92022-12-21T18:12:43ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95802003-02-014010.5034/inquiryjrnl_40.1.71Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65Gerald F. RileyJames D. LubitzNancy ZhangDisabled people under age 65 are a vulnerable and growing segment of the Medicare population, yet Medicare reform has focused on the needs of the aged. This study linked the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to Social Security Administration records to analyze patterns of health care for disabled beneficiaries by reason for disability. We found substantial variation in average health care costs by type of service, including prescription drugs, and in sources of payment. Rates of institutionalization were high among some disability categories and there was heavy reliance on Medicaid and other public programs for payment. It is essential that the special needs of the disabled not be overlooked as policymakers consider fundamental modifications to Medicare and Medicaid.https://doi.org/10.5034/inquiryjrnl_40.1.71
spellingShingle Gerald F. Riley
James D. Lubitz
Nancy Zhang
Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
title Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
title_full Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
title_fullStr Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
title_short Patterns of Health Care and Disability for Medicare Beneficiaries under 65
title_sort patterns of health care and disability for medicare beneficiaries under 65
url https://doi.org/10.5034/inquiryjrnl_40.1.71
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