TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in health for the uninsured after reaching age-eligibility for Medicare. JF - J Gen Intern Med Y1 - 2006 A1 - David W. Baker A1 - Joseph Feinglass A1 - Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon A1 - Whitney P. Witt A1 - Joseph J Sudano A1 - Jason A. Thompson KW - Age Factors KW - Aged KW - Cohort Studies KW - Eligibility Determination KW - Female KW - Health Status KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Medically Uninsured KW - Medicare KW - Middle Aged KW - Prospective Studies KW - United States AB -

BACKGROUND: Uninsured adults in late middle age are more likely to have a health decline than individuals with private insurance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how health and the risk of future adverse health outcomes changes after the uninsured gain Medicare.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=3,419) in the Health and Retirement Study who transitioned from private insurance or being uninsured to having Medicare coverage at the 1996, 1998, 2000, or 2002 interview.

MEASUREMENTS: We analyzed risk-adjusted changes in self-reported overall health and physical functioning during the transition period to Medicare (t(-2) to t(0)) and the following 2 years (t(0) to t(2)).

RESULTS: Between the interview before age 65 (t(-2)) and the first interview after reaching age 65 (t(0)), previously uninsured individuals were more likely than those who had private insurance to have a major decline in overall health (adjusted relative risk [ARR] 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 2.04) and to develop a new physical difficulty affecting mobility (ARR 1.24; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.56) or agility (ARR 1.33; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.54). Rates of improvement were similar between the 2 groups. During the next 2 years (t(0) to t(2)), adjusted rates of declines in overall health and physical functioning were similar for individuals who were uninsured and those who had private insurance before gaining Medicare.

CONCLUSIONS: Gaining Medicare does not lead to immediate health benefits for individuals who were uninsured before age 65. However, after 2 or more years of continuous coverage, the uninsured no longer have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes.

PB - 21 VL - 21 IS - 11 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16879704?dopt=Abstract ER -