Katherine A Ornstein1, Melissa M Garrido2, Albert L Siu3, Evan Bollens-Lund3, Omari-Khalid Rahman3, Amy S Kelley3. 1. Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1070, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA. Katherine.ornstein@mssm.edu. 2. Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston University School of Public Health, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA. 3. Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1070, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While bereavement is associated with increased mortality, it is unclear how bereaved families utilize the healthcare system after the death of their loved ones. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between bereavement and healthcare expenditures for surviving spouses. METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of older adults linked to Medicare claims. We determined a spouse's total Medicare expenditures 2 years before and after their partner's death across six biennial interview waves. Using coarsened exact matching, we created a comparison group of non-bereaved dyads. Costs were wage index- and inflation-adjusted to 2017 dollars. We used generalized linear models and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to calculate the average marginal effects of bereavement on Medicare spending by gender. We also examined subgroup differences based on caregiver status, cause of death, and length of terminal illness. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 941 bereaved dyads and a comparison group of 8899 matched dyads. Surviving female spouses (68% of the sample) had a $3500 increase in spending 2 years after death (p < 0.05). Using DID analyses, bereavement was associated with a $625 quarterly increase in Medicare expenditures over 2 years for women. There was no significant increase in post-death spending for male bereaved surviving spouses. Results were consistent for spouses who survived at least 2 years after the death of their spouse (70% of the sample) CONCLUSIONS: Bereavement is associated with increased healthcare spending for women regardless of their caregiving status, the cause of death, or length of terminal illness. Further study is required to examine why men and women have different patterns of healthcare spending relative to the death of their spouses.
BACKGROUND: While bereavement is associated with increased mortality, it is unclear how bereaved families utilize the healthcare system after the death of their loved ones. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between bereavement and healthcare expenditures for surviving spouses. METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of older adults linked to Medicare claims. We determined a spouse's total Medicare expenditures 2 years before and after their partner's death across six biennial interview waves. Using coarsened exact matching, we created a comparison group of non-bereaved dyads. Costs were wage index- and inflation-adjusted to 2017 dollars. We used generalized linear models and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to calculate the average marginal effects of bereavement on Medicare spending by gender. We also examined subgroup differences based on caregiver status, cause of death, and length of terminal illness. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 941 bereaved dyads and a comparison group of 8899 matched dyads. Surviving female spouses (68% of the sample) had a $3500 increase in spending 2 years after death (p < 0.05). Using DID analyses, bereavement was associated with a $625 quarterly increase in Medicare expenditures over 2 years for women. There was no significant increase in post-death spending for male bereaved surviving spouses. Results were consistent for spouses who survived at least 2 years after the death of their spouse (70% of the sample) CONCLUSIONS: Bereavement is associated with increased healthcare spending for women regardless of their caregiving status, the cause of death, or length of terminal illness. Further study is required to examine why men and women have different patterns of healthcare spending relative to the death of their spouses.
Authors: Melissa M Garrido; Amy S Kelley; Julia Paris; Katherine Roza; Diane E Meier; R Sean Morrison; Melissa D Aldridge Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2014-04-30 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Katherine A Ornstein; Jennifer L Wolff; Evan Bollens-Lund; Omari-Khalid Rahman; Amy S Kelley Journal: Health Aff (Millwood) Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 6.301
Authors: Kailey E Roberts; Leah E Walsh; Rebecca M Saracino; Justin Fogarty; Taylor Coats; Johanna Goldberg; Holly Prigerson; Wendy G Lichtenthal Journal: Curr Treat Options Psychiatry Date: 2019-11-01
Authors: Lauren J Hunt; R Sean Morrison; Siqi Gan; Edie Espejo; Katherine A Ornstein; W John Boscardin; Alexander K Smith Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2022-02-05 Impact factor: 7.538