If out-of-pocket costs for health care services are not affordable, some older adults will postpone nonurgent care or forgo it entirely. Not receiving timely care can worsen health conditions, delay diagnoses, lead to poorer health outcomes, and increase overall health care spending.⁴

Overall, relatively few people across the countries postponed or skipped care because of costs. Compared to older adults in other high-income countries, a larger share of those surveyed in the United States — about one in 12 — postponed or did not seek a consultation about their medical problem or get a recommended medical test, treatment, or follow-up examination (Exhibit 2). In countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, no more than 2 percent of older adults said they skipped medical services because of the cost. While high out-of-pocket costs are more common in Switzerland than the U.S., and as common in Australia, U.S. adults age 65 and older were more likely to skip or postpone needed care.

Americans age 65 and older were more likely to report postponing or forgoing health care because of the cost than older adults in other high-income countries.

Similarly, rates of skipping a dose of medication or not filling a prescription for cost reasons were more than twice as high among Americans age 65 and older than among older adults in other high-income countries (Exhibit 3). In most countries, fewer than 2 percent of older adults reported forgoing prescription medication, whereas 9 percent in the U.S. reported doing so.

There is a better way for Seniors