This study assessed affordability of care in a diverse sample of Floridians aged ≥ 65 to ascertain concerns about health care costs.
Methods:
We surveyed 170 adults (40.6% white, 27.6% black, and 31.8% Hispanic) and conducted three race/ethnic-stratified focus groups (n = 27).
Results:
Most participants had Medicare (97.1%). Among whites, 11.6% reported problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months versus 14.9% of blacks and 24.1% of Hispanics. In addition, 13% of whites, 19.2% of blacks, and 20.4% of Hispanics reported not getting needed prescription drugs because of costs. The most frequently identified concerns from the focus groups were the cost of prescription drugs, out-of-pocket expenses, and medical billing. Concerns about medical billing included understanding bills, transparency, timely postings, and uncertainty about who to contact about problems.
Discussion:
Our findings suggest that practices that help older adults effectively manage medical bills and costs may alleviate their concerns and guard against financial burdens.
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