Disability Stages and Trouble Getting Needed Health Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether activity limitation stages were associated with patient-reported trouble getting needed health care among Medicare beneficiaries. Design: This was a population-based study (n = 35,912) of Medicare beneficiaries who participated in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey for years 2001–2010. Beneficiaries were classified into an activity limitation stage from 0 (no limitation) to IV (complete) derived from self-reported or proxy-reported difficulty performing activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Beneficiaries reported whether they had trouble getting health care in the subsequent year. A multivariable logistic regression model examined the association between activity limitation stages and trouble getting needed care. Results: Compared with beneficiaries with no limitations (activities of daily living stage 0), the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for stage I (mild) to stage IV (complete) for trouble getting needed health care ranged from OR = 1.53 (95% CI, 1.32–1.76) to OR = 2.86 (95% CI, 1.97–4.14). High costs (31.7%), not having enough money (31.2%), and supplies/services not covered (24.2%) were the most common reasons for reporting trouble getting needed health care. Conclusion: Medicare beneficiaries at higher stages of activity limitations reported trouble getting needed health care, which was commonly attributed to financial barriers.

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