View the 2020 STD Prevention Conference hosted by the Center for Disease Control
According to the Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Older Adults, despite Medicare being the universal coverage for the elderly in the United States, nearly 1 in 4 of elderly patients avoided visiting the doctor when sick, skipped tests or treatment, and neglected to fill prescriptions due to additional costs not covered under the current Medicare law. (The Commonwealth Fund, 2017)
Individuals with no supplemental insurance or Medicaid, individuals older than 85 years, and women were also more likely to report barriers to care after adjustment for the other characteristics. Although there is a perception of greater equality regarding access to health care in older Americans because of the provision of Medicare, recent studies have concluded otherwise. Cost appears to be one of the major factors associated with lack of access to care. The vast majority of older adults delayed or did not receive needed care because of cost. (Fitzpatrick et al, 2004)