High Out-of-pocket Health Care Cost Burden Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes, 1999–2017

• DOI: 10.2337/dc20-2708
• Publication Date: 2021-06-28T18:00:20Z
• Authors: Joohyun Park; Ping Zhang; Yu Wang; Xilin Zhou; Kevin A. Look; Elizabeth T. Bigman
• Keywords: Quartile; Per capita income

We examined the magnitude of and trends in burden out-of-pocket (OOP) costs among Medicare beneficiaries age 65 years or older with diabetes overall, by income level, race/ethnicity, compared without diabetes.Using data from 1999-2017 Current Beneficiary Survey, we estimated average annual per capita OOP percentage experiencing high burden, defined as >10% >20% household income. used joinpoint regression to examine generalized linear model logistic for comparisons between diabetes. Cost estimates were adjusted 2017 USD.Total $3,609-$5,283, significant increases until 2005 followed a leveling off. The prevalence was 57%-72% at 10% threshold 29%-41% 20% threshold, increasing 2003 decreases. Total highest ≥75% quartile, whereas <25% 25-50% quartiles. Non-Hispanic Whites had burden. Beneficiaries significantly higher ($498, P < 0.01) more likely have than those (odds ratios 1.32 1.25 thresholds, respectively, 0.01).Over past two decades, faced substantial large income-related disparities.