Is expanding Medicare coverage cost-effective?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Proposals to expand Medicare coverage tend to be expensive, but the value of services purchased is not known. This study evaluates the efficiency of the average private supplemental insurance plan for Medicare recipients.

Methods

Data from the National Health Interview Survey, the National Death Index, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were analyzed to estimate the costs, changes in life expectancy, and health-related quality of life gains associated with providing private supplemental insurance coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. Model inputs included socio-demographic, health, and health behavior characteristics. Parameter estimates from regression models were used to predict quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs associated with private supplemen

SUBMITTER: Franks P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1079833 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature