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Medicare utilization by disabled-worker beneficiaries: a longitudinal analysis.
Social Security Bulletin
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Medicare costs for disabled-worker beneficiaries are not well understood. This study examines long-term Medicare spending patterns and influencing factors for this population.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Public Health Policy
- Social Security Administration
Background:
- Medicare eligibility for disabled-worker beneficiaries is linked to 2 years of cash benefit receipt.
- Extending Medicare coverage is proposed to incentivize return-to-work among beneficiaries.
- Limited data exists on long-term Medicare costs for disabled individuals and their variations by demographic and health factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe Medicare utilization and reimbursement for a cohort of disabled-worker beneficiaries.
- To analyze factors associated with variations in Medicare costs among beneficiaries over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a unique linkage of Disability Insurance program data with Medicare utilization data.
- Analyzed data for disabled-worker beneficiaries under age 62 first entitled to benefits in 1972.
- Examined Medicare utilization and reimbursement amounts from 1974-1981.
Main Results:
- Detailed tables illustrate factors associated with Medicare cost variations.
- Identified demographic and health characteristics influencing Medicare spending.
- Provided insights into long-term cost trends for disabled beneficiaries.
Conclusions:
- Understanding long-term Medicare costs is crucial for policy decisions regarding work incentives.
- Variations in Medicare costs are linked to beneficiary characteristics.
- Further research can inform strategies for supporting disabled beneficiaries' return to work.