Volume 47 | Number 2 | April 2012

Abstract List

Jae Chul Lee Ph.D., Romana Hasnain‐Wynia, Denys T. Lau


Objective

To examine the disparity in delaying seeing a doctor due to cost between older adults with and without disabilities, and whether the disparity could be explained by health and financial variables.


Data Sources

Nationally representative sample of community‐dwelling adults aged ≥65 who have health insurance and a usual source of care from the 2006 ehavioral isk actor urveillance ystem ( = 85,015).


Study Design

This cross‐sectional study used sequential logistic regression models to examine the associations of delaying seeing a doctor due to cost with disability status, including demographic, health, and financial variables.


Principal Findings

Older adults with disabilities had significantly higher odds of delaying seeing a doctor due to cost compared to older adults without disabilities after controlling for demographic, health, and financial factors. Although health and financial variables collectively attenuated the disparity, they did not fully explain the disparity.


Conclusions

Despite having health insurance and a usual source of care, older adults with disabilities encountered greater economic difficulties in seeing a doctor than their counterparts without disabilities. Policy makers should continue addressing the economic burden to improve timely visits to health care providers.