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As U.S. legislators consider expanding health insurance coverage to people younger than 65, investigators assessed some possible cost consequences. In an analysis that used data from a longitudinal nationally representative survey and Medicare claims files, Medicare spending was calculated for older adults (age, ≥65) who had been either continuously insured or at least intermittently uninsured when they were 51 to 61 years old.
Mean annual per-person Medicare spending was significantly higher for previously uninsured people than it was for the previously insured people (US$5796 vs. $4773). The difference was similar and significant for the subgroup of people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes by age 67 but was smaller and not significan…