Burden of common multiple-morbidity constellations on out-of-pocket medical expenditures among older adults.

TitleBurden of common multiple-morbidity constellations on out-of-pocket medical expenditures among older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsSchoenberg, NE, Kim, H, Edwards, W, Fleming, ST
JournalGerontologist
Volume47
Issue4
Pagination423-37
Date Published2007 Aug
ISSN Number0016-9013
Call Numbernewpubs20071002_Schoenberg_etal.pdf
KeywordsAged, Arthritis, Chronic disease, Comorbidity, Cost of Illness, Female, Financing, Personal, Health Expenditures, Health Surveys, Heart Diseases, Humans, Hypertension, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, United States
Abstract

PURPOSE: On average, adults aged 60 years or older have 2.2 chronic diseases, contributing to the over 60 million Americans with multiple morbidities. We aimed to understand the financial implications of the most frequent multiple morbidities among older adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed Health and Retirement Study data, determining out-of-pocket medical expenses from 1998 and 2002 separately and examining differences in the impact of multiple-morbidity constellations on these expenses. We paid particular attention to the most common disease constellations - hypertension, arthritis, and heart disease.

RESULTS: An increasing prevalence of multiple morbidity (58% compared with 70% of adults had two or more chronic conditions in 1998 and 2002, respectively) was accompanied by escalating out-of-pocket expenditures (2,164 dollars in 1998, increasing by 104% to 3,748 dollars in 2002). Individuals with two, three, and four chronic conditions had health care expenditure increases of 41%, 85%, and 100%, respectively, over 4 years. Such patterns were particularly noticeable among the oldest old, those with higher educational attainment, and women, although having supplementary health insurance or Medicaid mitigated these expenses. Finally, there were significant differences in out-of-pocket expenditure levels among the multiple-morbidity combinations.

IMPLICATIONS: Increasing rates of multiple morbidities in conjunction with escalating health care costs and stable or declining incomes among elders warrant creative attention from providers, researchers, and policy makers. Further understanding how specific multiple-morbidity constellations impact out-of-pocket spending moves us closer to effective interventions to support vulnerable elders.

DOI10.1093/geront/47.4.423
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17766664?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Chronic Disease/Morbidity,/Medical Expenditures

Endnote ID

17940

Alternate JournalGerontologist
Citation Key7152
PubMed ID17766664