• Posted August 14, 2024

Cost of Health Care Is Big Concern for Voters Over 50

Older voters are keenly interested in the cost of health care, a new survey has found.

Five of the top six health issues among older adults have to do with health care costs, according to new data from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging.

“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 lead researcher Dr. John Ayanian, director of the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

At least 50% of older adults say they are “very concerned” about the cost of medical care, prescription drugs, long-term care and health insurance, results show.

About 45% of seniors are also very concerned about dental care costs, researchers found.

Seniors are also concerned about being the victim of a financial scam or fraud, results show.

These concerns over health care vary between different groups of seniors, researchers said.

For example, 67% of liberals said they were very concerned about the cost of medical care for older adults, compared with 56% of moderates and 51% of conservatives.

The same trend held true for concerns over prescription costs, with 64% of liberals concerned, compared with 54% of moderates and 51% of conservatives.

Higher percentages of women than men were concerned about medical and prescription costs -- 59% versus 54% for medical costs and 58% versus 51% for prescription costs.

And those in their 50s and early 60s were more likely to say they’re concerned about health care costs for older adults than those older than 65, 60% versus 53%.

Rural residents were also more concerned than city dwellers about health care costs, 62% versus 56%, results showed.

Other top concerns involving health care included access to quality nursing home or assisted living care; inaccurate or misleading health information; and access to affordable healthy foods.

The poll was conducted in February and March  2024 and involved more than 2,500 adults aged 50 and older, researchers said.

The study was published Aug. 14 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More information

KFF has more about health care costs in America.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Aug. 14, 2024