Despite having nearly universal health coverage through Medicare, U.S. adults 65 and older are sicker than their counterparts in 10 other high-income countries and more likely to go without needed care because of costs, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s 20th International Health Policy Survey.
In the last year, 23 percent of U.S. seniors, citing costs, didn’t go to the doctor when they were sick, didn’t fill a prescription or skipped a dose, or didn’t get a recommended test or medical treatment. In France, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, no more than 5 percent of seniors skipped needed care because of costs.