Medicare seniors are skipping needed care and struggling emotionally as the Covid-19 pandemic alters their lifestyles.
New survey data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found 21% of beneficiaries reported forgoing health care due to the pandemic, while 46% reported feeling more stressed and anxious.
Nearly half of beneficiaries said they avoided care because they didn’t want to risk being in a medical facility, while 35% said they didn’t want to leave their home. And 23% reported feeling more lonely or sad.
The data released Friday comes from a nationally representative telephone survey of Medicare beneficiaries conducted in June and July.
Dental care was the most commonly postponed service, with 43% having delayed care. Thirty-six percent put off checkups and treatment for ongoing conditions, while 32% delayed diagnostic screenings.
Beneficiaries were increasingly able to use technology to bridge the care gap. Fifty-eight percent said their provider offers both phone and video appointments.