According to a healthcare study by the Commonwealth Fund, one-fifth of older workers and their spouses -- representing seven million Americans -- are uninsured or had a time when they were uninsured since age 50.
As aging Baby Boomers face increasing health problems, unstable health-insurance coverage and medical debts are creating barriers to needed care, indicating that the U.S. health system may not be able to cope with future health needs, the report said.
More than 60 percent of adults age 50 to 64 who are working or have a working spouse have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or hypertension, the study found.
The authors also found that many older adults who are insured have health plans that do not provide adequate protection from medical costs, particularly those purchased on the individual market. They estimate that about 6 percent of insured adults in working families, or 1.8 million people, are underinsured.
One-third of all respondents had medical-bill problems or accrued medical debt, and nearly one-quarter said there was a time they went without needed medical care because of cost.
Source: United Press International, January 23, 2006
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As aging Baby Boomers face increasing health problems, unstable health-insurance coverage and medical debts are creating barriers to needed care, indicating that the U.S. health system may not be able to cope with future health needs, the report said.
More than 60 percent of adults age 50 to 64 who are working or have a working spouse have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or hypertension, the study found.
The authors also found that many older adults who are insured have health plans that do not provide adequate protection from medical costs, particularly those purchased on the individual market. They estimate that about 6 percent of insured adults in working families, or 1.8 million people, are underinsured.
One-third of all respondents had medical-bill problems or accrued medical debt, and nearly one-quarter said there was a time they went without needed medical care because of cost.
Source: United Press International, January 23, 2006