Search Policy & Research

Advanced Search


From the Databases

On aarp.org

Email Newsletter

Get updates on Policy & Research by email.

Eligibility for Medicare

Older Women's Access to Health Care: Potential Impact of Medicare Reform

Research Report

July 2000


How would women age 65 and older be affected by some of the proposed changes to the Medicare program? In this AARP Public Policy Institute issue paper, Lisa A. Foley and Mary Jo Gibson assess the potential impact on older women of (1) restructuring Medicare as a premium support system; (2) introducing a prescription drug benefit; (3) raising the age of eligibility; (4) creating a Medicare "buy-in" option; and (5) assuring access to post-acute care. In addition to discussing these key issues, the paper considers non-financial barriers that may affect women's access to health care, and presents demographic and socioeconomic data comparing older women and older men. (28 pages)

Pub ID: 2000-08