Survey: U.S. seniors face greater healthcare affordability challenges than those in other countries

Older Americans are more likely to struggle with affordability of healthcare compared to those living in other wealthy nations, despite almost all being enrolled in Medicare coverage, a new study shows (Source: ”US seniors face greater affordability challenges, study finds,” Fierce Healthcare, Dec. 6).
 
Researchers at the Commonwealth Fund surveyed seniors in 10 countries—Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.— about their financial decisions relating to healthcare.
 
The survey found that out-of-pocket spending in the U.S. is high. Close to 1 in 4 of those surveyed said they had at least $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs for healthcare last year. By comparison, less than 5% of those living in France or the Netherlands said the same. People living in Switzerland were the only group that reported higher out-of-pocket spending than Americans, according to the report.
 
American seniors also had the highest rate of delaying or forgoing care due to the cost, the study found. A third of the older American adults who experienced cost-related barriers to medical care said they were in fair or poor health, according to the report. The study also found that 1 in 5 seniors living in the U.S., Canada or Australia skipped dental care due to the cost, while fewer than 5% of those living in Germany or the Netherlands skipped key dental services.