Gerald F Riley1. 1. Office of Research, Development, and Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD 21244, USA. gerald.riley@cms.hhs.gov
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including insurance premiums, for older Medicare beneficiaries living in the community. STUDY DESIGN: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data were analyzed for community-dwelling beneficiaries 65 years or older between 1992 and 2004. METHODS: The primary focus of the analysis was out-of-pocket healthcare costs and out-of-pocket costs as a percentage of income. Descriptive statistics are presented for 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. RESULTS: Inflation-adjusted median out-of-pocket costs were stable between 1992 and 2000 and then rose by 21.7% between 2000 and 2004. Median costs as a percentage of income declined between 1992 and 1996 but increased from 12.6% in 2000 to 15.5% in 2004. Between 1992 and 2004, out-of-pocket costs increased fastest at the upper percentiles of the distribution. High out-of-pocket costs tended to persist from year to year, exacerbating the financial burden for some beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Following a period of declining burden between 1992 and 1996, out-of-pocket healthcare costs rose significantly between 2000 and 2004, increasing the financial burden for many older Medicare beneficiaries. These data provide a baseline for evaluating Medicare reform proposals that affect beneficiary spending.
OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including insurance premiums, for older Medicare beneficiaries living in the community. STUDY DESIGN: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data were analyzed for community-dwelling beneficiaries 65 years or older between 1992 and 2004. METHODS: The primary focus of the analysis was out-of-pocket healthcare costs and out-of-pocket costs as a percentage of income. Descriptive statistics are presented for 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. RESULTS: Inflation-adjusted median out-of-pocket costs were stable between 1992 and 2000 and then rose by 21.7% between 2000 and 2004. Median costs as a percentage of income declined between 1992 and 1996 but increased from 12.6% in 2000 to 15.5% in 2004. Between 1992 and 2004, out-of-pocket costs increased fastest at the upper percentiles of the distribution. High out-of-pocket costs tended to persist from year to year, exacerbating the financial burden for some beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Following a period of declining burden between 1992 and 1996, out-of-pocket healthcare costs rose significantly between 2000 and 2004, increasing the financial burden for many older Medicare beneficiaries. These data provide a baseline for evaluating Medicare reform proposals that affect beneficiary spending.
Authors: Joan L Warren; Eboneé N Butler; Jennifer Stevens; Christopher S Lathan; Anne-Michelle Noone; Kevin C Ward; Linda C Harlan Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2014-12-22 Impact factor: 44.544
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