Chronic care costs in managed care

Health Aff (Millwood). 1997 May-Jun;16(3):239-47. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.16.3.239.

Abstract

This DataWatch presents estimates of the health care costs for all adults who were continuously enrolled in a large staff-model health maintenance organization (HMO) during 1992. More than one-third of these adults were diagnosed with at least one chronic condition in 1992, and costs for this population are at least twice those of the population without chronic conditions. A diagnosis of a chronic condition results in an expected increase in costs of 80 percent-300 percent, depending on age, sex, and chronic condition profile. Previous studies of the costs of chronic illness have focused on the fee-for-service sector. As managed care continues to grow, it is important that economic analyses focus on this market segment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease / economics*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Maintenance Organizations / economics*
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Washington