Home › Research › Health systems and care delivery
Older adults living with dementia enrolled in similar Medicare Advantage plans compared to those without dementia
Lianlian Lei, Donovan T. Maust, Claire K. Ankuda, Geoffrey J. Hoffman, Hyungjin Myra Kim, Julie Strominger, Helen G. Levy. Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging, 2025-05-05
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract INTRODUCTION Medicare Advantage (MA) plan selection may differ between older adults with or without dementia in unexplored ways. This study aims to characterize MA plan choice among those with dementia. METHODS We used the 2010 to 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study with linked Medicare enrollment data to identify MA respondents ≥ 65 years, with and without dementia. Conditional logit models examined how characteristics of MA plans affected choice. RESULTS Among respondents overall, there were no differences between those with versus without dementia regarding how plan out‐of‐pocket cost, star rating, and type affected choice. Among the dual eligible group, those with versus without dementia were more likely to choose Special Needs Plans (difference in log odds: 0.804, p = 0.007). DISCUSSION There were few differences in how MA plan characteristics affected choice among older adults with and without dementia. Older adults with dementia may make similar MA plan choices as those without.
Key findings
- RESULTS Among respondents overall, there were no differences between those with versus without dementia regarding how plan out‐of‐pocket cost, star rating, and type affected choice.
- Among the dual eligible group, those with versus without dementia were more likely to choose Special Needs Plans (difference in log odds: 0.804, p = 0.007).
Why it matters
This study found that older adults with and without dementia generally chose Medicare Advantage plans in similar ways based on cost, star rating, and plan type. It is about insurance plan choice, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging: journal h-index 4 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Helen G. Levy: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Michigan: institution h-index 2,240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40896804) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/bsa3.70016
- PubMed: 40896804
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lei, L., Maust, D. T., Ankuda, C. K., Hoffman, G. J., Kim, H. M., Strominger, J., et al. (2025). Older adults living with dementia enrolled in similar Medicare Advantage plans compared to those without dementia. Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsa3.70016
Vancouver
Lei L, Maust DT, Ankuda CK, Hoffman GJ, Kim HM, Strominger J, et al. Older adults living with dementia enrolled in similar Medicare Advantage plans compared to those without dementia. Alzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging. 2025. doi:10.1002/bsa3.70016. PMID: 40896804.
BibTeX
@article{lei2025-40896804,
author = {Lei, Lianlian and Maust, Donovan T. and Ankuda, Claire K. and Hoffman, Geoffrey J. and Kim, Hyungjin Myra and Strominger, Julie and Levy, Helen G.},
title = {{Older adults living with dementia enrolled in similar Medicare Advantage plans compared to those without dementia}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia Behavior \& Socioeconomics of Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/bsa3.70016},
pmid = {40896804},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/bsa3.70016}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Health systems and care delivery
Also tagged “care”
996 studies in the library carry the topic tag “care”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 996 tagged studies.