Economic insecurity in older age can reduce the ability to cope with a costly disease and exacerbate racial health disparities. This study asks: How do different sources of financial resources associate with the control of type-2 diabetes, a common chronic condition in older age? We construct a new panel dataset that links electronic health records to employment and credit data for a sample of older adults in Ohio from 2018-2022. We identify how wage earnings, access to credit, and debt are related to diabetes control and disability-related complications. We expect the association between financial resources and diabetes control to be stronger for economically vulnerable groups who are more dependent on Social Security retirement benefits.
More information: https://rdrc.wisc.edu/project/wi24-03