title: Correlates of Worry About Health Care Costs Among Older Adults.
abstract: Although older adults in the United States incur more health care expenses than younger adults, little research has been done on their worry about health care costs. Using data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey ( n = 7,253 for those 65+ years), we examined factors associated with older adults' health care cost worries, defined as at least a moderate level of worry, about ability to pay for normal health care and/or for health care due to a serious illness or accident. Bivariate analyses were used to compare worriers and nonworriers. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of income, health status, health care service use, and insurance type with worry status. Older age and having Medicaid and Veterans Affairs (VA)/military health benefits were associated with lower odds of worry, while low income, chronic pain, functional limitations, psychological distress, and emergency department visits were associated with higher odds. Practice and policy implications for the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Namkee G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: DiNitto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States
keywords: Medicaid; VA/military health benefits; emergency department visit; health care costs; low income; worry