Disability Topics

• Center for Studying Disability Policy
• Children and Youth with Disabilities
• Working-Age Adults
• Adults of All Ages
• Collecting and Improving Disability Data
• Clients

Accelerated Benefits Demonstration

Will short-term investment in medical benefits for certain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries have long-term payoffs? Specifically, will it improve their health and increase the likelihood they will return to work?

Extending a long tradition of being at the forefront of studying disability policy issues at the national level, Mathematica has subcontracted with MDRC to evaluate the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration for the Social Security Administration (SSA). This demonstration is testing the efficacy of providing immediate medical benefits to SSDI beneficiaries. Under current law, these beneficiaries must wait 24 months before becoming eligible for Medicare. During this time, a beneficiary's health may deteriorate for a number of reasons—including the natural progression of a medical condition, lack of access to medical care, and physical inactivity. Our team is examining the effects of providing earlier access to health insurance coverage on several outcomes, including a beneficiary’s health, medical expenditures, employment, earnings, and continued participation in SSDI. The study includes rigorous evaluation using random assignment; extensive process analysis to track project implementation and fidelity to program models; and cost-benefit analyses to help SSA decide whether to offer accelerated access to health insurance on a wider basis.

Mathematica is providing technical assistance in developing the intervention. We are also conducting a baseline interview to enroll participants in the demonstration and two follow-up interviews to measure changes in health and employment outcomes, as well as providing assistance in all aspects of the evaluation, including the impact, process, and cost-benefit analysis.

Publications

"Impacts on Health and Employment at Twelve Months" Appendixes (February 2011)
"Providing Health Benefits and Work-Related Services to Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries: Six Month Results from the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration" (April 2010)
"Health Benefits for the Uninsured: Design and Early Implementation of the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration" (September 2008)