Title | Cumulative inequality and racial disparities in health: private insurance coverage and black/white differences in functional limitations. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Kail, BLennox, Taylor, MG |
Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Volume | 69 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 798-808 |
Date Published | 2014 Sep |
ISSN Number | 1758-5368 |
Keywords | Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Black or African American, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Status Disparities, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Insurance Coverage, Insurance, Health, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Medicare, Socioeconomic factors, United States |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To test different forms of private insurance coverage as mediators for racial disparities in onset, persistent level, and acceleration of functional limitations among Medicare age-eligible Americans. METHOD: Data come from 7 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2008). Onset and progression latent growth models were used to estimate racial differences in onset, level, and growth of functional limitations among a sample of 5,755 people aged 65 and older in 1996. Employer-provided insurance, spousal insurance, and market insurance were next added to the model to test how differences in private insurance mediated the racial gap in physical limitations. RESULTS: In baseline models, African Americans had larger persistent level of limitations over time. Although employer-provided, spousal provided, and market insurances were directly associated with lower persistent levels of limitation, only differences in market insurance accounted for the racial disparities in persistent level of limitations. DISCUSSION: Results suggest private insurance is important for reducing functional limitations, but market insurance is an important mediator of the persistently larger level of limitations observed among African Americans. |
URL | http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/02/24/geronb.gbu005.abstract |
DOI | 10.1093/geronb/gbu005 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | Cumulative inequality/Insurance/Functional limitations/Private insurance |
Endnote ID | 999999 |
Alternate Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Citation Key | 8006 |
PubMed ID | 24569001 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4189650 |
Grant List | 2T32AG000139-21 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |