TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in health for the uninsured after reaching age-eligibility for medicare
AU - Baker, David W.
AU - Feinglass, Joseph
AU - Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon
AU - Witt, Whitney P.
AU - Sudano, Joseph J.
AU - Thompson, Jason A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grant number 2R01 HS 10283 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - BACKGROUND: Uninsured adults in late middle age are more likely to have a health decline than individuals with private insurance. OBJECTIVE: To determine how health and the risk of future adverse health outcomes changes after the uninsured gain Medicare. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=3,419) in the Health and Retirement Study who transitioned from private insurance or being uninsured to having Medicare coverage at the 1996, 1998, 2000, or 2002 interview. MEASUREMENTS: We analyzed risk-adjusted changes in self-reported overall health and physical functioning during the transition period to Medicare (t-2 to t0) and the following 2 years (t0 to t2). RESULTS: Between the interview before age 65 (t-2) and the first interview after reaching age 65 (t0), previously uninsured individuals were more likely than those who had private insurance to have a major decline in overall health (adjusted relative risk [ARR] 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 2.04) and to develop a new physical difficulty affecting mobility (ARR 1.24; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.56) or agility (ARR 1.33; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.54). Rates of improvement were similar between the 2 groups. During the next 2 years (t0 to t2), adjusted rates of declines in overall health and physical functioning were similar for individuals who were uninsured and those who had private insurance before gaining Medicare. CONCLUSIONS: Gaining Medicare does not lead to immediate health benefits for individuals who were uninsured before age 65. However, after 2 or more years of continuous coverage, the uninsured no longer have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes.
AB - BACKGROUND: Uninsured adults in late middle age are more likely to have a health decline than individuals with private insurance. OBJECTIVE: To determine how health and the risk of future adverse health outcomes changes after the uninsured gain Medicare. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=3,419) in the Health and Retirement Study who transitioned from private insurance or being uninsured to having Medicare coverage at the 1996, 1998, 2000, or 2002 interview. MEASUREMENTS: We analyzed risk-adjusted changes in self-reported overall health and physical functioning during the transition period to Medicare (t-2 to t0) and the following 2 years (t0 to t2). RESULTS: Between the interview before age 65 (t-2) and the first interview after reaching age 65 (t0), previously uninsured individuals were more likely than those who had private insurance to have a major decline in overall health (adjusted relative risk [ARR] 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 2.04) and to develop a new physical difficulty affecting mobility (ARR 1.24; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.56) or agility (ARR 1.33; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.54). Rates of improvement were similar between the 2 groups. During the next 2 years (t0 to t2), adjusted rates of declines in overall health and physical functioning were similar for individuals who were uninsured and those who had private insurance before gaining Medicare. CONCLUSIONS: Gaining Medicare does not lead to immediate health benefits for individuals who were uninsured before age 65. However, after 2 or more years of continuous coverage, the uninsured no longer have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes.
KW - Health status
KW - Medically uninsured
KW - Medicare
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00576.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00576.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 16879704
AN - SCOPUS:33749412370
SN - 0884-8734
VL - 21
SP - 1144
EP - 1149
JO - Journal of general internal medicine
JF - Journal of general internal medicine
IS - 11
ER -