Dental care coverage and retirement.

TitleDental care coverage and retirement.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsManski, RJ, Moeller, JF, Schimmel, J, St Clair, PA, Chen, H, Magder, LS, Pepper, JV
JournalJ Public Health Dent
Volume70
Issue1
Pagination1-12
Date Published2010 Winter
ISSN Number0022-4006
KeywordsAged, Employment, ethnicity, Female, Humans, Income, Insurance, Dental, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Multivariate Analysis, Retirement, United States
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the convergence of an aging population and a decreased availability of dental care coverage using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

METHODS: We calculate national estimates of the number and characteristics of those persons age 51 years and above covered by dental insurance by labor force, retirement status, and source of coverage. We also estimate a multivariate model controlling for potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS: We show that being in the labor force is a strong predictor of having dental coverage. For older retired adults not in the labor force, the only source for dental coverage is either a postretirement health benefit or spousal coverage.

CONCLUSIONS: Dental care, generally not covered in Medicare, is an important factor in the decision to seek dental care. It is important to understand the relationship between retirement and dental coverage in order to identify the best ways of improving oral health and access to care among older Americans.

DOI10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00137.x
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19694939?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

dental/utilization/dentistry/insurance/coverage/retirement

Endnote ID

25450

Alternate JournalJ Public Health Dent
Citation Key7536
PubMed ID19694939
PubMed Central IDPMC2864343
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026090-01A2 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 DE021678 / DE / NIDCR NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026090 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026090-03 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States