Take-up of Medicare Part D: results from the Health and Retirement Study.

TitleTake-up of Medicare Part D: results from the Health and Retirement Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsLevy, HG, Weir, DR
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume65
Issue4
Pagination492-501
Date Published2010 Jul
ISSN Number1758-5368
KeywordsAged, 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

DOI10.1093/geronb/gbp107
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20034992?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

medicare/older people/prescription drugs/Multivariate Analysis/Medicare Part D

Endnote ID

23390

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key7495
PubMed ID20034992
PubMed Central IDPMC4208729
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States