Dental Coverage Transistions, Utilization and Retirement

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究小组的长期目标是建立一个信息基础，以便为政府政策的变化制定建议，例如延长医疗保险，将成人牙科保险纳入医疗补助计划和私营部门的保险选择。这个项目建立在这个研究小组先前进行的几项研究的基础上。我们将检验假设，并使用健康与退休研究（HRS）的纵向二手数据进行本研究。我们将估计51岁及以上的非住院美国人对牙科服务的使用水平，并确定这种使用受到牙科保健覆盖是否存在的影响程度。具体目标：1；估计51岁及以上退休后仍有保险、退休后仍无保险、退休后失去保险或退休后获得保险的人数和特征。针对这一具体目标的工作假设是，人们在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控制个人和家庭特征和逆向选择的牙科保健覆盖状态和过渡的函数。针对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. 估计牙科保健自付费用的功能，牙科保健覆盖状况和过渡控制个人和家庭的特点和逆向选择。针对这一具体目标的工作假设是，没有牙科保健保险的人会有更高的自费支出。这个提议的项目在使用HRS提供的纵向次要数据方面是创新的，专门研究牙科保健覆盖范围、牙科使用和退休的转变。从这个项目中获得的结果将确定牙科覆盖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.