Avoidance Of Health Care Services Because Of Cost: Impact Of The Medicare Savings Program

The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, part of the Medicare Savings Program, provides Medicare premium and cost-sharing assistance to low-income beneficiaries but has low participation rates. We examined the potential for QMB coverage to reduce the avoidance of health care services because of cost among low-income seniors in eight states. Only one-third of eligible seniors participated. Adjusted for demographics and health status, QMB...