Extra Help: Take-up of the Social Security Administration’s Low-Income Subsidy Program for Part D of Medicare in 2006.

Published: 2007
Project ID: UM07-06

Abstract

This project will examine take-up rates for Social Security’s low-income subsidy program for the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. It appears that take-up will be well below potential eligibility. An economic model can be used to identify factors associated with costs of application, when demand/benefits can also be identified. The Health and Retirement Study provides excellent data for measuring eligibility, the value of the benefit, and factors associated with costs of application. This project will use data from the 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study to capture application and results for both the subsidy program and Part D, and data from 2006 and prior waves for other variables.

Researchers

David Weir

Helen Levy