HISTORY OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE GAPS AND HEALTH CARE USE AFTER GAINING AGE-BASED MEDICARE COVERAGE
2024
Health Insurance Gaps and Medicare Use
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Morris Jada, Tumin Dmitry, Zhang Yan
Primary Institution: East Carolina University
Hypothesis
Individuals with a history of coverage lapses will present a decrease in attendance at primary care appointments following enrollment in Medicare.
Conclusion
The study aims to show that gaps in health insurance coverage before Medicare eligibility are linked to lower use of preventive care services after gaining Medicare coverage.
Supporting Evidence
- Many older adults face interruptions in health insurance coverage before Medicare.
- Uninsured older adults often rely on emergency department visits for healthcare needs.
- Coverage gaps may lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Takeaway
If older adults didn't have health insurance before getting Medicare, they might not go to the doctor as much after they get it.
Methodology
The study examines Medicare enrollees using the RAND HRS 2020 dataset.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 55–64 transitioning to Medicare.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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