Table 3.
Estimated Coefficients In Year 1 Regressions for Any Medical Care Use and Annual Medical Care Expenditure Given Use, Dentate Individuals 50 Years and Older: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2008–2013
| Explanatory Variable | Logistic Regression Coefficient for any Medical Use (Standard Error) | Ordinary Least Squares Coefficient for Logarithm of Medical Expense (Standard Error) |
|---|---|---|
| Enabling Variables | ||
| Health Insurance Status | ||
| Medicare & Private | 1.805** (0.502) |
0.872** (0.100) |
| Medicare & Other Public | 1.168** (0.342) |
0.945** (0.086) |
| Medicare Only | 1.208** (0.468) |
0.758** (0.101) |
| No Medicare, Private | 0.909** (0.147) |
0.721** (0.066) |
| No Medicare, Other Public Only | 1.341** (0.354) |
0.858** (0.141) |
| No Medicare, Uninsured [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Dental Insurance Coverage | ||
| Covered | −0.020 (0.138) |
0.163** (0.037) |
| Not Covered [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Family Incomea | ||
| Poor [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Low Income | 0.240 (0.177) |
−0.041 (0.066) |
| Middle Income | 0.569** (0.166) |
0.076 (0.058) |
| High Income | 0.775** (0.175) |
0.189** (0.058) |
| Need Variables | ||
| Health Status | ||
| Excellent, Very Good [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Good | 0.437** (0.128) |
0.359** (0.033) |
| Fair, Poor | 0.617** (0.205) |
0.831** (0.053) |
| Mental Health Status | ||
| Excellent, Very Good [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Good | −0.087 (0.151) |
−0.005 (0.035) |
| Fair, Poor | 0.162 (0.241) |
0.063 (0.077) |
| Limited Physical Functioning | ||
| Limited | −0.013 (0.253) |
0.550** (0.045) |
| Not Limited [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Number of Physical Difficulties | 0.158 (0.130) |
0.040** (0.005) |
| Number of Medical Diagnoses | 0.894** (0.065) |
0.027** (0.002) |
| Predisposing Variables | ||
| Age | ||
| < 65 [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 65–74 | −0.432 (0.459) |
0.109 (0.079) |
| 75+ | −0.228 ((0.526) |
0.221* (0.092) |
| Sex | ||
| Women | 0.690** (0.107) |
0.135** (0.027) |
| Men [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| White, Non-Hispanic [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | −0.348** (0.119) |
−0.116** (0.043) |
| Hispanic | −0.053 (0.150) |
−0.168** (0.042) |
| Other, Non-Hispanic | −0.474** (0.160) |
−0.314** (0.050) |
| Marital Status | ||
| Married [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Widowed, Divorced, Separated | −0.337* (0.133) |
−0.143** (0.048) |
| Never Married | −0.146 (0.182) |
−0.119 (0.066) |
| Family Size | ||
| One Person [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Two Persons | −0.431** (0.148) |
−0.121* (0.053) |
| Three or More Persons | −0.473** (0.149) |
−0.300** (0.063) |
| Educational Attainment | ||
| Less than High School Degree | −0.109 (0.121) |
−0.193** (0.059) |
| High School Degree | −0.174 (0.174) |
0.122** (0.027) |
| College Degree and Beyond [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Census Region | ||
| Northeast | −0.061 (0.148) |
0.008 (0.039) |
| Midwest | −0.010 (0.159) |
−0.014 (0.038) |
| South [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| West | −0.084 (0.128) |
−0.043 (0.040) |
| Retirement, Labor Force Status, | ||
| Not Retired, In the Labor Force [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Retired | 0.023 (0.189) |
0.224** (0.038) |
| Not Retired, Not in the Labor Force | 0.441* (0.207) |
0.388** (0.053) |
| Frequency of Dental Checkups | ||
| Twice a Year or More [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Once a Year | −0.340 (0.175) |
−0.181** (0.043) |
| Less than Once a Year | −0.661** (0.162) |
−0.249** (0.046) |
| Never Go to Dentist | −0.991** (0.183) |
−0.418** (0.065) |
| Used Preventive Dental Care | ||
| No [Ref.] | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Yes | 5.325** (0.617) |
0.284** (0.037) |
Note. Logistic regression for any medical use in first year person was in the MEPS based on a sample size of 14,724 dentate persons 50 years and older with positive–valued weights in both years they were in the survey after deleting sample with missing data. OLS regression for logarithm of annual medical expense in first year person was in the MEPS was based on a sample size of 13,631 persons. Medical expenditures in each year were inflated to 2014 by the medical services component of the Consumer Price Index. Preventive dental care is defined as having at least one visit during the first year the person was in the MEPS involving an examination, cleaning, x-ray, fluoride treatment, or sealant application. All explanatory variables are measured as of the first year the sampled person was in the MEPS. All estimates were made with weighted sample data.
Low income refers to persons in families with incomes 101% to 200% of the poverty line; middle income, 201% to 400% of the poverty line; and high income, greater than 400% of the poverty line. Persons in poor families were at or below the poverty line including persons in families with negative income.
Indicates statistical significance at the 1% level.
Indicates statistical significance at the 5% level.