Publication Date: October 1st, 2003
Publication Type(s): Working Paper
Topic(s): Medicare
Author(s): Radcliff, T., Davidson, G., Thiede Call, K., Dobalian, A.
This study compares out-of-pocket spending obligations for Medicare beneficiaries residing in urban, rural-adjacent and rural-nonadjacent counties. We use data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) to assess annual out-of-pocket outlays and their observable correlates. Though it is found that lower overall out-of-pocket spending for rural-nonadjacent beneficiaries compared to residents in other county types, the proportion of their total expenditure attributed to premiums is five to eight percentage points higher than that of other beneficiaries.