Stability and change in health insurance among older Mexican Americans: longitudinal evidence from the Hispanic established populations for epidemiologic study of the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the association between health insurance coverage, medical care use, limitations in activities of daily living, and mortality among older Mexican-origin individuals.


METHODS
We analyzed longitudinal data from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE).


RESULTS
The uninsured tend to be younger, female, poor, and foreign born. They report fewer health care visits, are less likely to have a usual source of care, and more often receive care in Mexico. Conversely, those with private health insurance are economically better off and use more health care services. Over time, the data reveal substantial changes in type of insurance coverage.


CONCLUSIONS
The data reveal serious vulnerabilities among older Mexican Americans that result from a lack of private Medigap supplemental coverage.
Angel
Ronald J
RJ
Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA. jangel@mail.utexas.edu
Angel
Jacqueline L
JL
Markides
Kyriakos S
KS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000145:classification; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017054:Insurance, Medigap / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States