Showing papers on "Disability insurance published in 1981"

Benefits for the Disabled: How Beneficial for Women?

Abstract: This chapter examines the impact of United States disability policy on disabled women, and explains that the major programs— disability insurance, supplemental security income, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation— because of their relationship to labor market participation, disadvantage women. Women not only receive fewer but also less generous benefits. Programs aimed at assisting the disabled have a long historical tradition. The four most significant programs are the disability insurance program under social security; the supplemental security income program, the state workers' compensation and vocational rehabilitation programs. The social insurance features of United States Social Security policy, embodied in Title II of the Social Security Act, provide for the partial replacement of earnings lost to workers and their dependents because of the worker's retirement in old age, disability severe enough to prevent substantial gainful employment, or death. Disability insurance pays wage-related benefits to the worker, the worker's children, and the caretaker of the children of the disabled worker.

Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981: legislative history and summary of OASDI and Medicare provisions.

Abstract: In this article, the Commissioner of Social Security traces the legislative development and summarizes the final form of changes in the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Medicare programs incorporated in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-35). This legislation, signed into law by President Reagan on August 13, contains a major portion of his Program for Economic Recovery, announced to the Nation in February. The final section of the article shows that, although the Social Security and Medicare provisions in Public Law 97-35 will have a favorable effect on the overall financial status of the OASDI and Hospital Insurance Trust Funds, these changes will not be sufficient to restore the financial soundness of the programs in the near term or over the long range.

Evaluation of disability insurance savings due to beneficiary rehabilitation.

Abstract: This article uses individual vocational rehabilitation case data and disability insurance (DI) benefit histories from the master beneficiary record file to compare the costs and savings to the DI trust fund associated with the beneficiary rehabilitation program. Using cost-benefit procedures and varying assumptions as to the impact of vocational rehabilitation services, the savings to the trust fund were found to range between $1.39 and $2.72 per $1.00 of cost for DI beneficiaries who completed their vocational rehabilitation service period in fiscal year 1975. Calculating savings according to the length of the savings period revealed that expenditures for vocational rehabilitation services to these beneficiaries would be fully repaid within 10 years after closure. It was also discovered that the loss of savings due to return to the DI rolls substantially exceeds the increased payroll tax revenue accruing to the trust fund from post-vocational rehabilitation employment.

International trends in disability program growth.

Abstract: The steep growth in the number of beneficiaries under the U.S. Social security Disability Insurance program during 1966-77 has aroused interest in learning whether programs abroad experienced similar expansion. This article presents the gross rate of disability incidence in five European programs and explores termination rates (for recovery and death) in three of those programs. Factors underlying growth patterns are also discussed. Findings show that the gross disability incidence rate increased in the Belgian and Finnish programs from the late 1960's and in the programs of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, and France From the early 1970's, tapering off in all five countries studied by the mid-1970's. Gross recovery- and death-termination rates declined continuously in the Dutch and the Finnish programs. For all countries in this study, changes in the definition of statutory disability and changes in other program provisions, economic conditions, demographic patterns, and public awareness and attitudes were the major causes of expansion. Adequate explanations to account for the recent slackening off in program growth, however, are lacking.

Administrative expenses under OASDI.

Abstract: Costs of administering old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) are of interest both to specialists in income maintenance and to the general public. This article presents a summary of these expenses compared with several important bases: Contribution income, benefit payments, and taxable payroll. An index is developed and used to analyze changes in administrative expense levels from 1960 through 1979. Over the long run, the cost of operate OASDI per unit of work has increased more slowly than for service industries in general, a trend that should continue in the old-age and survivors insurance program (OASI). Although implementing the 1980 Disability Amendments will raise disability insurance (DI) unit costs, these higher expenses are necessary to obtain the more selective benefit payments provided in this cost-saving legislation.

Health Care Incentives under Disability Insurance

Abstract: This paper examines one of the possible factors which has contributed to the significant recent growth in the Social Security Administration's Disability Insurance program: that of health care incentives under the program. The examination of health care incentives involves a 2-period, 2-state insurance model under uncertainty which incorporates two general types of insurance. One form of insurance is disability insurance, and the other is the individual; "own" insurance or own risk bearing -- which is represented by acute care and preventive care expenditures. The model predicts a positive effect of disability insurance on acute care, while the extent to which disability insurance discourages preventive care depends largely on the effect of preventive care on the price of disability insurance. Regression estimates using data from the 1969 Longitudinal Retirement History Study(LRHS) indicate an elasticity of prescription drug expenditures (acute care) with respect to benefits of about .5, and an elasticity of use of X-rays and inoculations (preventive care) with respect to benefits of about -.004.

Aged widows and OASDI: age at and economic status before and after receipt of benefits.

Abstract: This article, which is based on panel data from the Retirement History Study, analyzes the economic status of widows in late middle age. Its objectives are threefold: (1) To describe the income, labor-force, and demographic characteristics of widows 2 to 3 years before they become eligible for old-age benefits under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) program; (2) to examine the age at which they elect benefits and the characteristics associated with that decision; and (3) to compare their economic status before and after they begin collecting benefits. The findings show that employment during the pre-OASDI period greatly influenced a widow's benefit-timing decision. Among workers, the decision was related to earnings, occupation, job tenure, extent of employment, income from assets, pension coverage, monthly benefit amount, and work limitations. Earnings and monthly benefit amount were important pivotal variables. Although the majority of widows experienced a reduction in their standard of living after moving into beneficiary status, a sizable minority--made up mainly of the most economically disadvantaged--experienced and improvement.

Medicolegal Aspects of Vascular Difficulties

Abstract: Since the United States is a highly industrialized country, it can be expected that more and more people will be covered by liability laws, workmen’s compensation acts, and disability insurance programs. Therefore, much as they might desire it, orthopedic and general surgeons cannot ignore the medicolegal aspects of their profession. Moreover, the growing incidence of malpractice suits initiated after elective surgery or even following limb- or lifesaving procedures makes the situation more critical.1 This chapter deals with some of the problems in forensic medicine that have relevance to the vascular complications of musculoskeletal disorders and their treatment.