Although nearly all older Americans have Medicare coverage, they still pay more and are more likely to postpone or skip needed care because of costs than their counterparts in most other wealthy countries, according to new findings from the 2024 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Older Adults.
The findings underscore how high out-of-pocket costs—in both traditional fee-for-service Medicare and private Medicare Advantage plans — are making it difficult for many older Americans to afford the care they need.