Unreimbursed expenses for medical care among urban elderly people.
Out-of-pocket medical expenditures were examined among a sample of 400 low-to-moderate income Medicare recipients living in the Bronx for a twelve month period in 1986-87. Using three different measures of magnitude, the most significant expenses were for Medicare and private insurance premiums, medications, and dental care. The mean percent of per capita income spent out-of-pocket for medical care (including health care premiums) was 11.0%. Elderly people who spend over 12% of their own income on medical care include those in the poorest health, those with annual incomes under $15,000, people living with spouses or others, and those using a private physician as a primary source of medical care.
Thomas
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Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
Kelman
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HR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D014505:Urban Population