Profile of Medicare Beneficiaries by Race and Ethnicity: A Chartpack
| Table 1: Percent of State Medicare Beneficiary Populations, by Race/Ethnicity, 2014 | |||||
| State | Number of Beneficiaries | Percent White | Percent Black | Percent Hispanic | Percent Other Race/Ethnicity |
| United States Total | 50,546,000 | 76% | 10% | 8% | 5% |
| Alabama | 850,000 | 77% | 21% | N/A | N/A |
| Alaska | 71,000 | 71% | N/A | N/A | 24% |
| Arizona | 1,031,000 | 71% | 4% | N/A | N/A |
| Arkansas | 560,000 | 82% | 14% | N/A | N/A |
| California | 5,272,000 | 57% | 6% | 20% | 16% |
| Colorado | 772,000 | 85% | 4% | 8% | 3% |
| Connecticut | 521,000 | 82% | 8% | 7% | N/A |
| Delaware | 173,000 | 79% | 16% | N/A | N/A |
| District of Columbia | 77,000 | 25% | 68% | 5% | N/A |
| Florida | 3,804,000 | 71% | 9% | 17% | 2% |
| Georgia | 1,431,000 | 72% | 24% | N/A | 2% |
| Hawaii | 231,000 | 25% | N/A | 4% | 70% |
| Idaho | 212,000 | 93% | N/A | 4% | N/A |
| Illinois | 1,981,000 | 75% | 13% | 6% | 5% |
| Indiana | 1,135,000 | 92% | 6% | N/A | N/A |
| Iowa | 518,000 | 97% | 2% | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas | 444,000 | 86% | 4% | N/A | 6% |
| Kentucky | 843,000 | 94% | 5% | N/A | N/A |
| Louisiana | 635,000 | 68% | 26% | N/A | N/A |
| Maine | 273,000 | 96% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maryland | 865,000 | 64% | 25% | N/A | 7% |
| Massachusetts | 1,105,000 | 82% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Michigan | 1,743,000 | 84% | 12% | 2% | 2% |
| Minnesota | 848,000 | 92% | 1% | N/A | 5% |
| Mississippi | 495,000 | 66% | 31% | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | 1,050,000 | 87% | 8% | N/A | 3% |
| Montana | 182,000 | 97% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nebraska | 306,000 | 95% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nevada | 423,000 | 69% | 7% | 10% | 13% |
| New Hampshire | 226,000 | 96% | N/A | N/A | 3% |
| New Jersey | 1,417,000 | 73% | 12% | 9% | 6% |
| New Mexico | 355,000 | 64% | N/A | 28% | N/A |
| New York | 3,148,000 | 71% | 11% | 11% | 8% |
| North Carolina | 1,641,000 | 74% | 20% | 2% | N/A |
| North Dakota | 105,000 | 95% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ohio | 2,181,000 | 86% | 11% | N/A | N/A |
| Oklahoma | 600,000 | 83% | 7% | N/A | 8% |
| Oregon | 764,000 | 90% | N/A | 3% | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,375,000 | 85% | 9% | 3% | 2% |
| Rhode Island | 174,000 | 88% | 3% | 5% | N/A |
| South Carolina | 834,000 | 76% | 22% | N/A | N/A |
| South Dakota | 143,000 | 94% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee | 1,141,000 | 85% | 13% | N/A | N/A |
| Texas | 3,384,000 | 63% | 11% | 22% | 4% |
| Utah | 337,000 | 93% | N/A | 4% | N/A |
| Vermont | 112,000 | 98% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia | 1,212,000 | 74% | 17% | 3% | 5% |
| Washington | 1,112,000 | 84% | 3% | 4% | 9% |
| West Virginia | 389,000 | 95% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wisconsin | 967,000 | 91% | 4% | 2% | N/A |
| Wyoming | 76,000 | 94% | N/A | 4% | N/A |
| NOTE: Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. “Other” category includes Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, American Indians, Aleutians, Eskimos and persons identifying two or more races. These groups have been combined due to their small populations in many states which prevent meaningful statistical analyses of the groups individually. N/A: estimates with relative standard errors greater than 30% are not provided and often correspond to low sample size.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the March 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. |
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| Table 2: Characteristics of Medicare Beneficiaries, by Race/Ethnicity, 2011 | ||||
| Measure | Total | White | Black | Hispanic |
| Number of beneficiaries1 | 50.0 million | 38.2 million | 4.7 million | 4.5 million |
| Share of beneficiaries | 100% | 76% | 9% | 9% |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 45% | 45% | 43% | 49% |
| Female | 55% | 55% | 57% | 51% |
| Age in years | ||||
| Under 65 | 17% | 14% | 31%* | 23%* |
| 65-74 | 44% | 45% | 39%* | 45% |
| 75-84 | 26% | 27% | 21%* | 23%* |
| 85+ | 13% | 14% | 9%* | 8%* |
| Education level | ||||
| Less than high school | 22% | 17% | 38%* | 46%* |
| High school graduate | 29% | 30% | 27% | 25%* |
| Some college or 2-year degree | 29% | 30% | 24%* | 21%* |
| College graduate or more | 20% | 23% | 11%* | 9%* |
| Metropolitan status | ||||
| Metro | 77% | 74% | 85%* | 92%* |
| Non-metro | 23% | 26% | 15%* | 8%* |
| Type of residence | ||||
| Community | 95% | 95% | 96% | 97%* |
| Facility | 5% | 5% | 4% | 3%* |
| Poverty level (2014)2 | ||||
| Less than 100% | 10% | 8% | 19%* | 18%* |
| 100-199% FPL | 22% | 21% | 29%* | 30%* |
| Supplemental coverage3 | ||||
| Medicare Advantage | 28% | 26% | 29% | 45%* |
| Medicaid | 15% | 11% | 28%* | 22%* |
| Employer-sponsored | 28% | 32% | 20% | 14%* |
| Medigap | 14% | 17% | 3%* | 4%* |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| None | 14% | 13% | 19%* | 14% |
| Prescription drug coverage | ||||
| Enrolled in Part D | 57% | 55% | 66%* | 71%* |
| Enrolled in Part D with Low Income Subsidy (LIS) | 23% | 17% | 46%* | 38%* |
| NOTE: 1Sample includes all beneficiaries, including those who are enrolled for the entire year, those who become eligible during the year, and those who die during the year. 2Poverty estimates are for adults ages 65 and over during 2014. 3Supplemental coverage was assigned in the following order: 1) Medicare Advantage, 2) Medicaid, 3) employer-sponsored, 4) Medigap, 5) other public/private coverage, 6) no supplemental coverage. FPL is federal poverty level. *denotes statistically significant differences at the 95% confidence level from whites.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Cost and Use File, 2011; 2014 poverty rates from March 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. |
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| Table 3: Selected Measures of Health Status and Prevalence of Diseases/Chronic Conditions Among Medicare Beneficiaries, By Race/Ethnicity, 2011 | ||||
| Measure | Total | White | Black | Hispanic |
| Number of beneficiaries1 | 50 million | 38.2 million | 4.7 million | 4.5 million |
| Self-reported health status | ||||
| Excellent/very good/good | 73% | 76% | 63%* | 64%* |
| Fair/poor | 27% | 24% | 37%* | 36%* |
| Activities of daily living (ADLs)2 | ||||
| One or more | 35% | 34% | 41%* | 36% |
| Cognitive/mental impairment3 | 31% | 29% | 34% | 37%* |
| Number of chronic conditions4 | ||||
| Less than 3 | 34% | 34% | 37% | 35% |
| 3-4 | 39% | 39% | 39% | 40% |
| 5+ | 27% | 27% | 24%* | 25% |
| Diseases/chronic conditions | ||||
| Alzheimer’s disease | 7% | 7% | 8% | 9%* |
| Arthritis | 55% | 55% | 53% | 54% |
| Cancer (non-skin) | 18% | 19% | 13%* | 16%* |
| Depression | 28% | 27% | 26% | 35%* |
| Diabetes | 26% | 23% | 38%* | 38%* |
| Heart condition5 | 39% | 41% | 34%* | 32%* |
| Heart disease | 10% | 11% | 8%* | 9% |
| Heart failure | 8% | 8% | 9% | 6% |
| Hypertension | 68% | 66% | 79%* | 73%* |
| Mental condition6 | 31% | 30% | 31% | 38%* |
| Myocardial Infarction | 12% | 13% | 10%* | 11% |
| Osteoporosis/broken hip | 22% | 23% | 13%* | 20% |
| Parkinson’s disease | 1% | 2% | N/A | 1% |
| Pulmonary condition | 20% | 20% | 19% | 17% |
| Stroke | 11% | 10% | 14%* | 12% |
| NOTE: 1Sample includes all beneficiaries, including those who are enrolled for the entire year, those who become eligible during the year, and those who die during the year. 2Activities of daily living are eating, dressing, getting into and out of bed or chair, taking a bath or shower, using the toilet, and difficulty walking. 3Cognitive/mental impairment is defined as presence of memory loss that interferes with daily activity, difficulty making decisions, trouble concentrating, and loss of interest within the past year. 4The count for chronic conditions includes diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, emphysema, hypertension, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, pulmonary disease, skin cancer, non-skin cancer, stroke, incontinence, broken hip, and/or angina, chronic heart disease and other mental conditions. 5Heart condition is defined as diagnosis with hardening of arteries, angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and/or problem with heart valves or heart rhythm or other heart disease. 6Mental condition is defined as presence of a mental disorder (excluding depression), mental retardation, depression, schizophrenia, and/or manic depression. *denotes statistically significant differences at the 95% confidence level from whites. N/A: estimates with relative standard errors greater than 30% are not provided and often correspond to low sample size.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Cost and Use File, 2011. |
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| Table 4: Selected Measures of Access to Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries, by Race/Ethnicity, 2013 | ||||
| Measure | Total | White | Black | Hispanic |
| Number of beneficiaries1 | 48.9 million | 3606 million | 4.7 million | 4.6 million |
| Have a usual source of care | 95% | 96% | 94% | 92%* |
| No usual source of care | 5% | 4% | 6% | 8%* |
| Had trouble getting needed care | 6% | 5% | 7%* | 9%* |
| Had a health problem but did not see the doctor about it | 11% | 10% | 12% | 11% |
| Delayed care due to cost | 11% | 10% | 12% | 13% |
| Average doctor wait time (days) | 10.2 | 10.1 | 8.3 | 11.1 |
| Average ER wait time (mins) | 46 | 40 | 67* | 61* |
| Ease of getting to doctor | ||||
| Very satisfied | 39% | 42% | 30%* | 30%* |
| Satisfied | 54% | 52% | 64%* | 60%* |
| Dissatisfied | 4% | 4% | 4% | 6%* |
| Very dissatisfied | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| No experience | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Satisfied with the quality of care received | ||||
| Very satisfied/satisfied | 94% | 95% | 93%* | 93%* |
| Dissatisfied/very dissatisfied | 3% | 3% | 5%* | 5%* |
| No experience | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Ever been a resident/patient in a nursing home | 7% | 7% | 8% | 5%* |
| NOTE: 1Sample includes only those beneficiaries who are enrolled for the entire year. *denotes statistically significant differences at the 95% confidence level from whites.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Access to Care File, 2013. |
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| Table 5: Selected Measures of Service Utilization by Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries, by Race/Ethnicity and Self-reported Health Status, 2011 | ||||||||||||
| Measure | Total | White | Black | Hispanic | ||||||||
| Number of beneficiaries1 | 36.1 million | 28.3 million | 3.3 million | 2.5 million | ||||||||
| Self-reported health status | Total | Exc./ Very good/ good |
Fair/ poor | Total | Exc./ Very good/ good |
Fair/ poor | Total | Exc./ Very good/ good |
Fair/ poor | Total | Exc./ Very good/ good |
Fair/ poor |
| 1+ inpatient stays | 19% | 14% | 30% | 19% | 15% | 31% | 21% | 14% | 33% | 15%* | 8%* | 25% |
| 2+ inpatient stays | 7% | 4% | 13% | 6% | 4% | 13% | 10%* | 5% | 18%* | 6% | N/A | 13% |
| Physician office visit | 78% | 77% | 79% | 80% | 80% | 81% | 71%* | 66%* | 77% | 68%* | 65%* | 74% |
| Any hospice days | 2% | 1% | 5% | 2% | 1% | 6% | 2% | N/A | N/A | 2% | N/A | N/A |
| 1+ SNF stays | 5% | 3% | 10% | 5% | 3% | 11% | 5% | N/A | 10% | 2%* | N/A | N/A |
| 1+ ED visits | 29% | 23% | 44% | 28% | 22% | 44% | 37%* | 30%* | 47% | 29% | 22% | 40% |
| 2+ ED visits | 12% | 8% | 23% | 12% | 8% | 23% | 19%* | 14%* | 26% | 11% | 7% | 19% |
| Any Rx events | 90% | 91% | 87% | 90% | 91% | 86% | 89% | 91% | 86% | 88% | 86% | 90% |
| Any dental events | 43% | 49% | 28% | 47% | 52% | 31% | 27%* | 30%* | 22%* | 30%* | 36%* | 22% |
| NOTE: 1 Sample includes all beneficiaries, including those who are enrolled for the entire year, those who become eligible during the year, and those who die during the year. Analysis excludes beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage. *denotes statistically significant differences at the 95% confidence level from whites. Excludes beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Exc. is excellent. SNF is skilled nursing facility. ED is emergency department. Rx is prescription drug. N/A: estimates with relative standard errors greater than 30% are not provided and often correspond to low sample size.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Cost and Use File, 2011. |
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