Medicare, Medicaid, and dual enrollment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Given high rates of un- and underemployment among disabled people, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on Medicaid, Medicare, or both to pay for healthcare. Many disabled adults are Medicare eligible before the age of 65 but little is known as to why some receive Medicare services while others do not. We described the duration of Medicare enrollment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 2019 and then compared demographics by enrollment type (Medicare-only, Medicaid-only, dual-enrolled). Additionally, we examined the percent in each enrollment type by state, and differences in enrollment type for those with Down syndrome.

2019 Medicare and Medicaid claims data for all adults (≥18 years) in the US with claim codes for intellectual disability, Down syndrome, or autism at any time between 2011 and 2019.

Administrative claims cohort.

Data were from the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files and Medicare Beneficiary Summary files.

In 2019, Medicare insured 582,868 adults with identified intellectual disability, autism, or Down syndrome. Of 582,868 Medicare beneficiaries, 149,172 were Medicare only and 433,396 were dual-enrolled. Most Medicare enrollees were enrolled as child dependents (61.5%) Medicaid-only enrollees (N = 819,256) were less likely to be white non-Hispanic (58.5% white non-Hispanic vs. 72.9% white non-Hispanic in dual-enrolled), more likely to be Hispanic (19.6% Hispanic vs. 9.2% Hispanic in dual-enrolled) and were younger (mean 34.2 years vs. 50.5 years dual-enrolled).

There is heterogeneity in public insurance enrollment which is associated with state and disability type. Action is needed to ensure all are insured in the program that works for their healthcare needs.