American Seniors Struggle to Pay Medical Bills More Than Peers in Other Wealthy Countries

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 -- American seniors still pay more for health care than their counterparts in most other wealthy countries do, despite coverage by Medicare, a new study finds.

They are also more likely to postpone or skip needed care because of cost concerns.

“In the U.S., nearly all older adults are covered by Medicare and can access, at minimum, the most basic health services,” concluded the report from the non-profit Commonwealth Fund. “Still, our survey data shows the U.S. Medicare program could improve and be on par with other countries -- in some countries, nearly no older adults report cost-related access issues.”

Nearly 1 in 4 American seniors spent at least $2,000 out of pocket on health care last year, according to results from the 2024 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Older Adults.

By comparison, fewer than 5% of older adults in France or the Netherlands spent that much, researchers said.

Out of the other wealthy countries surveyed -- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom -- only in Switzerland did seniors spend more on their health care.

The survey also found that 8% of Americans on traditional Medicare and 9% of Americans with Medicare Advantage skipped needed health care because of cost concerns.

Australia (8%) and Switzerland (7%) were the closest to the United States in terms of seniors foregoing needed treatment. Only 2% of seniors in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and the U.K. skipped health care due to cost concerns.

U.S. seniors also were more likely to not see a doctor for a health problem or not have a prescription filled because of the cost, results show.

Finally, at least 1 in 5 seniors in the United States, Canada and Australia skipped dental care because of the cost, the survey found. By comparison, 5% or fewer of seniors in the Netherlands or Germany forewent dental care.

“When older people can’t afford the health care they need, it impacts the health system overall: beneficiaries avoid getting care, their health providers end up seeing sicker patients, and federal Medicare spending increases over the long term,” concluded the team led by Munira Gunja, a senior researcher with the Commonwealth Fund.

“It is no surprise then that older Americans who have financial barriers to getting care are also more likely to report poorer health than those without these same barriers,” the report added.

The survey was conducted between Feb. 29 and June 20, and involved 16,737 interviews of seniors 65 and older.

Sources

  • Commonwealth Fund, news release, Dec. 4, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-12-05 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords