KFF February 5, 2024
More than sixty-five million people ages 65 and older and younger people with long-term disabilities receive their health insurance coverage through the federal Medicare program. While overall satisfaction with the program is high, the financial burden of health care spending can prove challenging for Medicare beneficiaries. According to a recent KFF survey, more than one-third (36%) of Medicare beneficiaries said they have delayed or gone without a visit to the doctor’s office, vision services, hearing services, prescription drugs or dental care within the last year because of the cost. Medicare households also spend a larger share of their total budgets on health care than non-Medicare households, and are more likely to need expensive long-term services and supports over an extended...