We analyzed satisfaction with care, out-of-pocket costs, and specialist access among community-dwelling Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey respondents, 2015–2019, in the 50 states and Washington, DC. For each measure, we constructed a binary indicator indicating very satisfied (vs. very dissatisfied to satisfied)., We used logistic regression to model outcomes as a function of Medicare Advantage - MA (vs. Traditional Medicare - TM) enrollment, respondent-reported race/ethnicity, and interactions of MA with race/ethnicity. Race/ethnicity was categorized as non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White. We adjusted for age, sex, education, income, tobacco use, chronic conditions, functional limitations, disability, and geographic factors. Racial/ethnic disparities reflect effects of structural factors that systematically disadvantage members of minoritized racial/ethnic groups. Because structural racism contributes to disparities in socioeconomic status (including income and education), we verified that our estimates did not change appreciably when we did not adjust for socioeconomic factors. , and Analyses were weighted by a composite of survey weights and propensity score weights to balance MA and TM populations within racial/ethnic groups. Separate analyses were conducted for beneficiaries with vs. without dual eligibility for full Medicaid.
We used SAS to process the data.
Roberts ET, Ruggiero DA, Stefanesu A, Patel S, Hames AG, Tipirneni R. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Satisfaction with Healthcare Access and Affordability in Medicare Advantage vs. Traditional Medicare. Journal of general internal medicine. 2024 September;39(12):2368-2371. PubMed PMID: 38926325; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11347532; DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024- 08892-7.
