An examination of downstream effects of bereavement on healthcare utilization for surviving spouses in a national sample of older adults.

TitleAn examination of downstream effects of bereavement on healthcare utilization for surviving spouses in a national sample of older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsOrnstein, KA, Garrido, MM, Siu, AL, Bollens-Lund, E, Rahman, O-K, Kelley, A
JournalPharmacoeconomics
Volume37
Issue4
Pagination585-596
Date Published2019 Apr
ISSN Number1179-2027
KeywordsBereavement, Health Services Utilization, Medicare claims, Medicare linkage, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Widowhood
Abstract

BACKGROUND: While bereavement is associated with increased mortality, it is unclear how bereaved families utilize the healthcare system after the death of their loved ones.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between bereavement and healthcare expenditures for surviving spouses.

METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of older adults linked to Medicare claims. We determined a spouse's total Medicare expenditures 2 years before and after their partner's death across six biennial interview waves. Using coarsened exact matching, we created a comparison group of non-bereaved dyads. Costs were wage index- and inflation-adjusted to 2017 dollars. We used generalized linear models and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to calculate the average marginal effects of bereavement on Medicare spending by gender. We also examined subgroup differences based on caregiver status, cause of death, and length of terminal illness.

RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 941 bereaved dyads and a comparison group of 8899 matched dyads. Surviving female spouses (68% of the sample) had a $3500 increase in spending 2 years after death (p < 0.05). Using DID analyses, bereavement was associated with a $625 quarterly increase in Medicare expenditures over 2 years for women. There was no significant increase in post-death spending for male bereaved surviving spouses. Results were consistent for spouses who survived at least 2 years after the death of their spouse (70% of the sample) CONCLUSIONS: Bereavement is associated with increased healthcare spending for women regardless of their caregiving status, the cause of death, or length of terminal illness. Further study is required to examine why men and women have different patterns of healthcare spending relative to the death of their spouses.

DOI10.1007/s40273-019-00787-4
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30864065?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalPharmacoeconomics
Citation Key10064
PubMed ID30864065
PubMed Central IDPMC6465109
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01AG054540 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K01 AG047923 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K01AG047923 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
16-140 / VA / VA / United States
R01 AG054540 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States