Health care expenditures of living with a disability: total expenditures, out-of-pocket expenses, and burden, 1996 to 2004.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the health care expenditures associated with a disability and their recent trends.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of survey data.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Data from multiple years (1996-2004) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for a nationally representative sample of civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Health care expenditures consisted of total health care expenditures, total out-of-pocket (OOP) spending, and burden (the ratio of OOP to family income). All the analyses accounted for the complex survey design of the MEPS.


RESULTS
Between 1996 and 2004, 6% to 9% of persons in the working-age group (21-61 y) were identified as having a disability. Persons with disabilities consistently had higher total health expenditures, OOP spending, and burden compared with their counterparts without disabilities. In 2004, the average total expenditures were estimated at $10,508 for persons with disabilities and at $2256 for those without disabilities. In a multiple regression framework, persons with disabilities were consistently found to have higher expenditures, OOP spending, and burden between 1996 and 2004. Although expenditures, OOP spending, and burden increased over time, after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health status, these 3 health care costs were not found to change disproportionately for persons with disability.


CONCLUSIONS
During the 1996 to 2004 period, persons with disabilities were consistently found to have significantly higher health expenditures, OOP spending, and burden compared with their counterparts without disabilities, which may adversely affect their health and standard of living.
Mitra
Sophie
S
Department of Economics, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA. mitra@fordham.edu
Findley
Patricia A
PA
Sambamoorthi
Usha
U
D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States