Medical Economics July 28, 2021
The program dramatically increases the insured portion of the Black and Hispanic communities.
As the U.S. grapples with rising inequality in many areas of national life, a new study shows that an old program—Medicare—has been significantly reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care insurance coverage, access and outcomes.
A team of researchers used 10 years of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to compare insurance coverage and care access and status of 2.4 million Americans immediately before and after becoming eligible for Medicare at age 65.
They found that 92% of White respondents had insurance coverage before turning 65, compared to 86.3% of Black respondents and 77.4% of Hispanic respondents. After...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor