Seniors demand action on spiraling health care costs
Concern over health care costs among older adults remains high across political affiliations, although there are notable variations.
A new study from the University of Michigan shows that health care costs are a major issue for many older voters. At least 50% of respondents reported being “very concerned” about the costs of medical care, prescription drugs, health insurance and long term care.
Concern over health care costs among older adults remains high across political affiliations, although there are notable variations. Self-identifying conservatives, for the most part, are less concerned over health care costs than their liberal counterparts. Sixty-seven percent of liberals reported being very concerned about medical care costs for older adults, compared to 51% of conservatives. The same trend applies to concern over prescription medication costs, with 64% of liberal respondents reporting concern, versus 51% of conservatives. Moderates are somewhere in the middle of the two groups.
Differences in concern over health care costs are also observed between other demographics. For example, women (59%) are more likely than men (54%) to be concerned about medical costs. Respondents in their 50’s and early 60’s were more likely to report being concerned over health care and prescription costs than respondents older than 65, 60% versus 53%. Rural Americans were more concerned than urban residents about health care costs, 62% versus 56%.
That older voters be concerned with health care costs should perhaps not come as a surprise. According to data from University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging, 5 out of 6 of the most common health problems of older Americans are related to health care costs.
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A lead researcher on the study, Dr. John Ayanian, director of the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, said the study’s findings could pave the way for a bipartisian political response to the issue.
“There have been efforts in recent years to reduce costs of some types of care for older adults, especially those enrolled in Medicare, but these findings suggest a strong interest in more action, across the political spectrum and various demographic groups,” said Ayanian.