Related Experiment Videos
Illness-engendered poverty among the elderly.
1Brookdale Research Institute on Aging, Fordham University, New York, NY 10023.
Women & Health
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Many elderly women face poverty due to inadequate long-term care coverage by Medicare. They must "spend down" assets to qualify for Medicaid, impacting their financial well-being.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Elderly women in the U.S. face unique economic vulnerabilities.
- Inadequate Medicare coverage for long-term care forces many to deplete assets.
- This leads to "illness-engendered poverty" as individuals seek public assistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the economic situation of elderly women in the United States.
- To analyze the impact of "illness-engendered poverty" on this demographic.
- To discuss the consequences of current healthcare financing systems on older women.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on elderly women's economic status.
- Analysis of Medicare and Medicaid policies related to long-term care.
- Discussion of the "spend down" phenomenon and its implications.
Main Results:
- Medicare inadequacies in long-term care coverage are a primary driver of poverty.
- Medicaid eligibility requirements necessitate asset depletion for many.
- System incentives exacerbate the economic and social challenges faced by older women.
Conclusions:
- Current healthcare financing systems contribute to the economic insecurity of elderly women.
- Policy reforms are needed to address long-term care coverage gaps.
- Improved support systems are crucial for the well-being of older women and their families.