title: Medicare and the Social Security Disability Insurance program.
abstract: This DataWatch traces changes over time in the age and health characteristics of persons awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. SSDI beneficiaries are increasingly younger and more likely to be incapacitated by health conditions that at any age lengthen spells of disablement. These changes have had a significant impact on SSDI operations; they also have important implications for financing the Medicare program.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Chirikos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006291:Health Policy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012943:Social Security / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States