Approximately a third of all Medicare beneficiaries have either substantial physical or cognitive problems. As a result, these beneficiaries have substantially higher medical care costs and substantially higher out of pocket spending than do other beneficiaries. This is particularly true for those with physical problems. This subgroup of the Medicare population is much less likely to enroll in the Medicare + Choice plan, and the higher overall age of these beneficiaries combined with lower incomes make them particularly vulnerable to the high costs of health care. (Published by The Commonwealth Fund; 2001 August.)
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