Problems Getting Care Due to Cost or Paying Medical Bills Among Medicare Beneficiaries
While health care costs have long been a top concern for Americans, concerns about out-of-pocket costs have intensified due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease, with more than half of Americans saying saying they are worried they will not be able to afford testing or treatment for COVID-19 if they need it. Policymakers have recently taken steps to address these concerns by requiring public programs, including Medicare, and private insurers to cover the cost of coronavirus testing and testing-related services, but patients could still face significant costs for treatment. While some insurers have announced that they plan to waive cost sharing for COVID-19-related treatments, this is not required.