Socioeconomic factors and Medicare supplemental health insurance

This analysis was conducted to determine how personal and community characteristics affect coverage by private insurance to supplement Medicare. Data from the 1980 National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey were used. After controlling for health status, it was found that supplemental coverage was positively associated with education, income, number of self-reported chronic conditions, being white, being married, and having a regular source of care. Private coverage was negatively associated with Medicaid coverage and age. The only community characteristic associated with supplemental coverage was region. Consideration of local medical resources and economic measures did not change that.