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The Health Effects of Medicare for the Near-Elderly Uninsured

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Polsky
  • Jalpa A. Doshi
  • Jose Escarce
  • Willard Manning
  • Susan M. Paddock
  • Liyi Cen
  • Jeannette Rogowski

Abstract

We study how the trajectory of health for the near-elderly uninsured changes upon enrolling into Medicare at the age of 65. We find that Medicare increases the probability of the previously uninsured having excellent or very good health, decreases their probability of being in good health, and has no discernable effects at lower health levels. Surprisingly, we found Medicare had a similar effect on health for the previously insured. This suggests that Medicare helps the relatively healthy 65 year olds, but does little for those who are already in declining health once they reach the age of 65. The improvement in health between the uninsured and insured were not statistically different from each other. The stability of insurance coverage afforded by Medicare may be the source of the health benefit suggesting that universal coverage at other ages may have similar health effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Polsky & Jalpa A. Doshi & Jose Escarce & Willard Manning & Susan M. Paddock & Liyi Cen & Jeannette Rogowski, 2006. "The Health Effects of Medicare for the Near-Elderly Uninsured," NBER Working Papers 12511, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12511
    Note: AG EH PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Hoke, Omer & Dunn, Richard, 2016. "The Effect of Early ACA Medicaid Expansion on Mental Health," Working Paper series 290123, University of Connecticut, Charles J. Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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