OBJECTIVES: To compare the medical utilization and expenditures for patients with arthritis and enrolled in gatekeeper and non-gatekeeper health plans in 2012 and 2013. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study used 2012-2013 MEPS data. Adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with arthritis and enrolled in gatekeeper and non-gatekeeper plans were included. Those covered by Medicaid or private Health Maintenance Organizations were identified as enrolling in gatekeeper plans. The dependent variables were arthritis-related annual expenditures and health service utilization of office-based medical visits (OBMVs), hospital inpatient visits (HIVs), outpatient visits (OVs) and prescription medications (PMs). The primary independent variable was insurance plan type (gatekeeper and non-gatekeeper). Demographic characteristics and study years were included as covariates. A generalized linear model was used to compare the annual mean healthcare utilization and expenditures by health service between gatekeeper and non-gatekeeper plans while controlling for covariates. RESULTS: