Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medicare Choices for Older Adults with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Official title: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care and Challenges in Insurance Plan Choices among Older People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia: A Mixed Methods Study of Medicare Options
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11079546 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how race and ethnicity affect the health insurance choices and care experiences of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on Medicare.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $712,990 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082856-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079546 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are enrolled in Medicare (Traditional or Advantage) and represent diverse racial/ethnic groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible due to age, non-ADR D conditions, or plans outside the Medicare program.
What this research studies
The study follows older adults with ADRD to understand how they choose between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and how race and ethnicity influence those choices. It uses a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to explore disparities in care continuity, preventive services, and adverse health events. The aim is to identify barriers and opportunities to improve insurance decisions and the quality of care for ADRD patients in diverse communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could guide policy and plan design to reduce disparities and improve access to high-quality care for ADRD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has highlighted mixed results; this project adds causal and qualitative insights to explain disparities in ADRD care within Medicare.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahmoudi, Elham — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Mahmoudi, Elham
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Examining health care choices and disparities among older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementia
This study looks at how older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementia, especially Black and Hispanic individuals, choose their Medicare plans and the challenges they face, with the goal of improving health care options and support for these communities.
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Automated language analysis to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English speakers
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Automated language analysis for Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English-speaking communities
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.