Almost half of near-poor Medicare beneficiaries spend at least one-fifth of their income on health care costs

New research from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health found “near poor” –whose incomes are between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level, or $12,880 to $25,760 for a single person in 2021- who rely on Medicare for health insurance face high medical bills and may forgo essential health care. The researchers say “this is due to coverage “cliff” in Medicaid, which supplements Medicare for people with incomes below poverty but excludes individuals above the federal poverty threshold, including the near-poor.” The researchers found “the near-poor used 55 percent few outpatient and preventive health services and filled fewer prescriptions per year, including fewer chronic disease medications.” To read what the researchers suggest for the solution to the Medicaid coverage cliff, clicking here…

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