Overview
Dataset Summary
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is a nationally representative longitudinal panel survey of Medicare beneficiaries conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The MCBS examines beneficiaries’ experiences with healthcare access, utilization, insurance coverage, and costs.
A key strength of the MCBS is its inclusion of both community-dwelling and facility-residing individuals, providing a more comprehensive view of the Medicare population. The survey links self-reported data with Medicare administrative claims, supporting robust analyses of access, spending, and outcomes.
Caveats
- Access to Limited Data Set (LDS) files requires a Data Use Agreement (DUA) and associated fee.
- As a survey-based dataset, some measures rely on self-report and may be subject to recall bias.
- Panel duration is limited, restricting very long-term longitudinal analyses.
Examples of Outcomes Examined
- Access to care
- Barriers to care
- Cost of care and out-of-pocket spending
- Health literacy
- Social determinants of health
Topic
Population Health, Research, Social Determinants of Health
Resource Type
Dataset
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