Why Do Older Americans Still Struggle with Health Care Costs?

In the United States, health insurance doesn't guarantee affordable care, especially for older adults. While most Americans over 65 have Medicare, high out-of-pocket costs still make healthcare difficult to afford. A study by The Commonwealth Fund compared the U. S. with nine other wealthy countries and found that Americans spend more on healthcare. One in four older Americans spent at least $2, 000 on out-of-pocket expenses last year, compared to less than 5% in France and the Netherlands.This high cost leads many older Americans to delay or skip care, which can worsen their health and increase Medicare spending. Medicare's coverage isn't always enough, and out-of-network costs can be a big problem. The exception? Mental health treatment, which is affordable and rarely skipped. Experts suggest capping out-of-pocket expenses and fully covering hospital and physician services to make healthcare more accessible.