Title | Take-up of Medicare Part D: results from the Health and Retirement Study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2010 |
Authors | Levy, HG, Weir, DR |
Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Volume | 65 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 492-501 |
Date Published | 2010 Jul |
ISSN Number | 1758-5368 |
Keywords | Aged, ethnicity, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Medically Uninsured, Medicare Part D, Multivariate Analysis, Poverty, prescription drugs, Prescription Fees, United States |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of Medicare Part D on prescription drug coverage among elderly Medicare beneficiaries and to analyze the predictors of program enrollment ("take-up") among those with no prior drug coverage. METHODS: Multivariate analyses of data from the 2002, 2004, and 2006 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. RESULTS: Take-up of Part D among those without drug coverage in 2004 was high; about 50%-60% of this group had Part D coverage in 2006. Only 7% of senior citizens lacked drug coverage in 2006 compared with 24% in 2004. Demand for prescription drugs was the most important determinant of the decision to enroll in Part D among those with no prior coverage. Many of those who remained without coverage in 2006 reported that they do not use prescribed medicines, and the majority had relatively low out-of-pocket spending. CONCLUSION: For the most part, Medicare beneficiaries seem to have been able to make economically rational decisions about Part D enrollment despite the complexity of the program. |
Notes | Times Cited: 6 |
DOI | 10.1093/geronb/gbp107 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | medicare/older people/prescription drugs/Multivariate Analysis/Medicare Part D |
Endnote ID | 23390 |
Alternate Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Citation Key | 7495 |
PubMed ID | 20034992 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4208729 |
Grant List | U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |