scholarly journals National Trends in Out-of-Pocket 1 Costs Among U.S. Adults With Diabetes Aged 18–64 Years: 2001–2017

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Joohyun Park ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Elizabeth Luman ◽  
Ping Zhang

<b>Objective</b> <p>To assess national trends in out-of-pocket (OOP) costs among adults aged 18–64 years with diabetes in the United States. </p> <p><b>Research design and methods</b></p> <p>Using data from the 2001–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we estimated total per person annual OOP costs (insurance premiums, prescription drug costs, inpatient and outpatient deductibles, and copays, and other payments not covered by insurance) and high OOP cost rate defined as the percentage of people with OOP spending more than 10% of their family’s pretax income. We examined trends overall, by subgroup (insurance type, income level, insulin use, size of patient’s employer, and whether the patient was enrolled in a high deductible health plan), and by type of service. Changes in trends were identified using joinpoint analysis; costs were adjusted to 2017 US dollars.</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>From 2001 to 2017, OOP costs decreased 4.3%, from $4,328 to $4,139, and high OOP cost rate fell 32%, from 28% to 19% (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Changes in the high OOP cost rate varied by subgroup, declining among those with public or no insurance and those with an income <200% of the federal poverty level (<i>P</i> < 0.001), but remaining stable among those with private insurance and higher income. Drug prescription OOP costs decreased among all subgroups (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Decreases in total (-$58 vs -$37, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and prescription (-$79 vs -$68, <i>P</i> < 0.001) OOP costs were higher among insulin users than noninsulin users. </p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> OOP costs among US nonelderly adults with diabetes declined, especially among those least able to afford them. Future studies may explore factors contributing to the decline in OOP costs and the impact on the quality of diabetes care and complication rates.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Joohyun Park ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Elizabeth Luman ◽  
Ping Zhang

<b>Objective</b> <p>To assess national trends in out-of-pocket (OOP) costs among adults aged 18–64 years with diabetes in the United States. </p> <p><b>Research design and methods</b></p> <p>Using data from the 2001–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we estimated total per person annual OOP costs (insurance premiums, prescription drug costs, inpatient and outpatient deductibles, and copays, and other payments not covered by insurance) and high OOP cost rate defined as the percentage of people with OOP spending more than 10% of their family’s pretax income. We examined trends overall, by subgroup (insurance type, income level, insulin use, size of patient’s employer, and whether the patient was enrolled in a high deductible health plan), and by type of service. Changes in trends were identified using joinpoint analysis; costs were adjusted to 2017 US dollars.</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>From 2001 to 2017, OOP costs decreased 4.3%, from $4,328 to $4,139, and high OOP cost rate fell 32%, from 28% to 19% (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Changes in the high OOP cost rate varied by subgroup, declining among those with public or no insurance and those with an income <200% of the federal poverty level (<i>P</i> < 0.001), but remaining stable among those with private insurance and higher income. Drug prescription OOP costs decreased among all subgroups (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Decreases in total (-$58 vs -$37, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and prescription (-$79 vs -$68, <i>P</i> < 0.001) OOP costs were higher among insulin users than noninsulin users. </p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> OOP costs among US nonelderly adults with diabetes declined, especially among those least able to afford them. Future studies may explore factors contributing to the decline in OOP costs and the impact on the quality of diabetes care and complication rates.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
John F Cogan ◽  
R. Glenn Hubbard ◽  
Daniel Kessler

In this paper, we use publicly available data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey - Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) to investigate the effect of Massachusetts' health reform plan on employer-sponsored insurance premiums. We tabulate premium growth for private-sector employers in Massachusetts and the United States as a whole for 2004 - 2008. We estimate the effect of the plan as the difference in premium growth between Massachusetts and the United States between 2006 and 2008—that is, before versus after the plan—over and above the difference in premium growth for 2004 to 2006. We find that health reform in Massachusetts increased single-coverage employer-sponsored insurance premiums by about 6 percent, or $262. Although our research design has important limitations, it does suggest that policy makers should be concerned about the consequences of health reform for the cost of private insurance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Abdulkarim M. Meraya ◽  
Monira Alwhaibi ◽  
Moteb A. Khobrani ◽  
Hafiz A. Makeen ◽  
Saad S. Alqahtani ◽  
...  

Objectives. National estimates of healthcare expenditures by types of services for adults with comorbid diabetes and eye complications (ECs) are scarce. Therefore, the first objective of this study is to estimate total healthcare expenditures and expenditures by types of services (inpatient, outpatient, prescription, and emergency) for adults with ECs. The second objective is to estimate the out-of-pocket spending burden among adults with ECs. Study Design. A cross-sectional study design using data from multiple panels (2009-2015) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was employed. The sample included adults aged 21 years or older with diabetes (n=8,420). Principal Findings. Of adults with diabetes, 18.9% had ECs. Adults ECs had significantly higher incremental total medical expenditures of $3,125. The highest incremental expenditures were associated with outpatient and prescription drugs. After controlling for sex, age, race, poverty level, insurance coverage, prescription coverage, perceived physical and mental health, the number of chronic physical and mental conditions, marital status, education, the region of residence, smoking status, exercise, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), there was no difference in the out-of-pocket spending burden between adults with and those without ECs. However, adults with comorbid diabetes and CKD were more likely to have the out-of-pocket spending burden than those without CKD. Conclusions. The study showed that ECs in individuals with diabetes are associated with high incremental direct medical and out-of-pocket expenditures. Therefore, it requires more health initiatives, interventions, strategies, and programs to address and minimize the risk involved in such affected individuals.


Author(s):  
Javier Valero-Elizondo ◽  
Erica S Spatz ◽  
Joseph A Salami ◽  
Chukwuemeka U Osondu ◽  
Nihar R Desai ◽  
...  

Background: Given the health and cost burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease, we aimed to describe the trends in CV risk factors (CRF) in the US over the last twelve years, and quantify the disparities in healthcare by socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: The 2002-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a nationally representative sample was the basis for our study. CRFs (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, lack of physical activity and obesity) were identified by ICD9CM codes and/or self-report. Individuals were stratified by income level (per the federal poverty level), and proportions and logistic regression models were used to study trends and relationships for each CRF in two-year intervals. All analyses took into consideration the survey’s complex design. Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 18, BMI ≥ 18.5 and a positive sampling weight. Results: The study sample consisted of 250,371 MEPS participants (46 ± 14 years of age, 49% male), translating into 1.3 billion US adults. During the study period, the proportion of individuals with obesity increased overall, though moreso among people of low SES (Table). Trends in diabetes prevalence increased (from 9.6% to 12.8% in “Poor/Near Poor” and 5.6% to 8.3% in “High Income”, both p trend < 0.001) and hypertension (from 28.5% to 36.3% in “Poor/Near Poor” and 24.2% to 33.4% in “High Income”, both p trend < 0.001), though the greatest relative change was observed among the Middle/High Income SES group. Prevalence of inadequate physical activity increased in all SES categories, with the “Poor/Near Poor” group having the most drastic change (32.4% vs. 55.4%, p trend < 0.001), and a relative percent change of 71.1% increase in this category. Smoking declined across time in all SES categories, and hypercholesterolemia showed no significant changes. In pooled analysis, the odds of having a “Poor CRF Profile” (≥ 4 CRFs) for “Poor/Near Poor” SES were 36% higher when compared to “High Income” SES (OR 1.36, 95% CI [1.30, 1.44]) (Table). Conclusion: Disparities in the prevalence of CRFs have increased over the past 12 years, and have worsened for some conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity. There is a need for healthcare initiatives and policies to target the groups most in need.


Healthcare ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naleen Raj Bhandari ◽  
Chenghui Li

Currently available evidence regarding the association of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) elimination of cost-sharing and the utilization of cancer screenings is mixed. We determined whether the ACA’s zero cost-sharing policy affected the guideline-concordant utilization of cancer screenings, comparing adults (≥21 years) from 2009 with 2011–2014 data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Study participants were categorized as: 21–64 years with any private insurance, ≥65 years with Medicare only, and 21–64 years uninsured, with a separate sample for each type of screening test. Adjusted weighted prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR (95%CI)) were estimated. In 2014 (vs. 2009), privately-insured women reported 2% (0.98 (0.97–0.99)) and 4% (0.96 (0.93–0.99)) reduction in use of Pap tests and mammography, respectively. Privately-insured non-Hispanic Asian women had 16% (0.84 (0.74–0.97)) reduction in mammography in 2014 (vs. 2009). In 2011 (vs. 2009), privately-insured and Medicare-only men reported 9% (1.09 (1.03–1.16)) and 13% (1.13 (1.02–1.25)) increases in colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings, respectively. Privately-insured women reported a 6–7% rise in 2013–2014 (vs. 2009), and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries also reported 40–44%, a significant rise in 2011–2014 (vs. 2009), in the utilization of CRC screenings. While the guideline-concordant utilization of Pap tests and mammography declined in the post-ACA period, the elimination of cost-sharing appeared to have positively affected CRC screenings of privately-insured males, females, and Hispanic Medicare-only beneficiaries. Greater awareness about the zero cost-sharing policy may help in increasing the uptake of cancer screenings.


Author(s):  
Julie L. Hudson ◽  
Thomas M. Selden ◽  
Jessica S. Banthin

In this paper we use the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey between 1996 and 2002 to investigate the impact of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on insurance coverage for children. We explore a range of alternative estimation strategies, including instrumental variables and difference-in-trends models. We find that SCHIP had a significant impact in decreasing uninsurance and increasing public insurance for both children targeted by SCHIP and those eligible for Medicaid. With respect to changes in private coverage our results are less conclusive: some specifications resulted in no significant effect of SCHIP on private insurance coverage, while others showed significant decreases in private insurance. Associated estimates of SCHIP crowd-out had wide confidence intervals and were sensitive to estimation strategy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Pierre ◽  
Roland J. Thorpe ◽  
Gniesha Y. Dinwiddie ◽  
Darrell J. Gaskin

This article sought to determine whether racial disparities exist in psychotropic drug use and expenditures in a nationally representative sample of men in the United States. Data were extracted from the 2000-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a longitudinal survey that covers the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Full-Year Consolidated, Medical Conditions, and Prescribed Medicines data files were merged across 10 years of data. The sample of interest was limited to adult males aged 18 to 64 years, who reported their race as White, Black, Hispanic, or Asian. This study employed a pooled cross-sectional design and a two-part probit generalized linear model for analyses. Minority men reported a lower probability of psychotropic drug use (Black = −4.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−5.5, −3.0]; Hispanic = −3.8%, 95% CI = [−5.1, −2.6]; Asian = −4.5%, 95% CI = [−6.2, −2.7]) compared with White men. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health status variables, there were no statistically significant race differences in drug expenditures. Consistent with previous literature, racial and ethnic disparities in the use of psychotropic drugs present problems of access to mental health care and services.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Burtless ◽  
Pavel Svaton

Cash income offers an incomplete picture of the resources available to finance household consumption. Most American families are covered by an insurance plan that pays for some or all of the health care they consume. Only a comparatively small percentage of families pays for the full cost of this insurance out of their cash incomes. As health care has claimed a growing share of consumption, the percentage of care that is financed out of household incomes has declined. Because health care consumption is more important for some groups in the population than others, the growth in spending and changes in the payment system for medical care have reduced the value of standard income measures for assessing relative incomes of the rich and poor and the young and old. More than a seventh of total personal consumption now consists of health care that is purchased with government insurance and employer contributions to employee health plans. This paper combines health care spending and insurance reimbursement data in the Medical Expenditure Panel Study and money income and health coverage data in the Current Population Survey to assess the impact of health insurance on the distribution of income. Our estimates imply that gross money income significantly understates the resources available to finance household purchases. The estimates imply that a more complete measure of resources would show less inequality than the income measures that are currently used. The addition of estimates of the value of health insurance to countable incomes reduces measured inequality in the population and the income gap between young and old. If the analysis were extended over a longer period, it would show a sizeable impact of insurance on inequality trends in the United States.


Author(s):  
Susan L. Parish ◽  
Kathleen C. Thomas ◽  
Christianna S. Williams ◽  
Morgan K. Crossman

Abstract We examined the relationship between family financial burden and children's health insurance coverage in families (n  =  316) raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), using pooled 2000–2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Measures of family financial burden included any out-of-pocket spending in the previous year, and spending as a percentage of families' income. Families spent an average of $9.70 per $1,000 of income on their child's health care costs. Families raising children with private insurance were more than 5 times as likely to have any out-of-pocket spending compared to publicly insured children. The most common out-of-pocket expenditure types were medications, outpatient services, and dental care. This study provides evidence of the relative inadequacy of private insurance in meeting the needs of children with ASD.


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