Dental Coverage Transistions, Utilization and Retirement

描述（由申请人提供）：该研究团队的长期目标是建立信息基础，以便制定政府政策变化的建议，例如医疗保险的扩展，将成人牙科保险纳入医疗补助和私营部门的保险选择。该项目建立在该研究小组以前进行的几项研究的基础上。我们将使用健康与退休研究（HRS）提供的纵向二级数据来检验假设并进行本研究。我们将估计51岁及以上的非机构化美国人对牙科服务的使用水平，并确定这种使用受牙科保健覆盖的存在或不存在影响的程度。具体目标：1。估计51岁及以上退休后仍有保险、退休后无保险、退休后失去保险或退休后获得保险的人数和特征。这一具体目标的工作假设是，人们退休后不太可能有牙科保健保险。2.估计牙科保健使用作为牙科保健覆盖状况和过渡控制个人和家庭特征和逆向选择的函数。这一具体目标的工作假设是，没有牙科保健保险的人不太可能去看牙医。3.估计牙科保健自付支出作为牙科保健覆盖状况和过渡控制个人和家庭特征和逆向选择的函数。这个特定目标的工作假设是，人与牙科访问将有更高的自付支出没有牙科保健coverage.This拟议的项目是创新的纵向二级数据，从HRS专门研究过渡在牙科保健覆盖范围，牙科使用和退休。从该项目获得的结果将确定牙科覆盖率对牙科使用的独立影响，从而为决策者提供重要和及时的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-range goal for this research team is to build a foundation of information to enable the formulation of recommendations for changes in governmental policies, such as an extension of Medicare, the inclusion of adult dental coverage in Medicaid and coverage options within the private sector. This project builds upon several studies previously conducted by this research team. We will test the hypothesis and conduct this study using longitudinal secondary data available from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We will estimate the level of use for dental services among non-instutionalized Americans aged 51 and above and determine the degree to which that use is influenced by the presence or absence of dental care coverage. Specific Aims: 1. Estimate the number and characteristics of persons age 51 and above who stay covered after retirement, stay uninsured after retirement, lose coverage after retirement, or gain coverage after retirement. The working hypothesis for this specific aim is that persons are less likely to have dental care coverage after retirement. 2. Estimate dental care use as a function of dental care coverage status and transitions controlling for individual and household characteristics and adverse selection. The working hypothesis for this specific aim is that persons are less likely to have a dental visit without dental care coverage. 3. Estimate dental care out-of-pocket expenditures as a function of dental care coverage status and transitions controlling for individual and household characteristics and adverse selection. The working hypothesis for this specific aim is that persons with a dental visit will have higher out-of-pocket expenditures without dental care coverage.This proposed project is innovative in its use of longitudinal secondary data available from the HRS to specifically study transitions in dental care coverage, dental use and retirement. Results obtained from this project will establish the independent effect of dental coverage on dental use and as a consequence provide important and timely information for policy makers.