Social Determinants Of Health Impact On Seniors’ Unmet Needs

These policies are also crucial for federal spending, which surpassed $702 billion, or nearly 15% of its total budget, on Medicare in 2017. And in 2019, one out of six older adults (roughly 60 million) received coverage. But as the number of Medicare-eligible older adults grows, so will costs, with some experts projecting spending to exceed $1 trillion by 2026.

The rate of aging adults in the US isn’t the only contributing factor to Medicare increases. To some degree, social determinants of health contributing to seniors’ unmet needs are also responsible. For example, Medicare is supposed to help offset acute in-patient care costs. Yet it has historically denied coverage for many preventative measures that could prevent the need for in-patient care in the first place. And while policymakers expanded Medicare supplemental benefits to support independence and health, including home-based care, many still receive limited assistance.

Furthermore, some state CMS agencies have considered revoking or shrinking provisions such as non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services. This move would also increase costs, as coverage for services such as NEMT is vital to promoting seniors’ wellbeing and independence. According to a 2018 study from the Medical Transportation Access Coalition (MTAC), NEMT “saves Medicaid, and thereby taxpayers, more than $40 million per month for every 30,000 beneficiaries receiving treatment for one of three conditions covered in the study.”

For the nearly 66% of Medicare recipients with multiple chronic conditions, transportation assistance helps them attend routine health appointments and receive needed care, preventing minor issues from becoming costly expenses. Removing benefits like these hinders seniors’ access to preventative care, further increasing costs for Medicaid recipients, payers, and taxpayers.