Differences in Health Care Utilization, Process of Diabetes Care, Care Satisfaction and Health Status in Patients with Diabetes in Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare. Medical Care

The objective of this study was to determine differences in health care utilization, process of diabetes care, care satisfaction, and health status for Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries with and without diabetes. Using the 2010–2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, the authors identified MA and TM beneficiaries with and without diabetes. To address the endogenous plan choice between MA and TM, the authors used an instrumental variable approach. Using marginal effects, the authors estimated differences in the outcomes between MA and TM beneficiaries with and without diabetes. MA enrollment was associated with lower health care utilization without compromising care satisfaction and health status, particularly for beneficiaries with diabetes. MA may have a more efficient care delivery system for beneficiaries with diabetes.