CONFIDENCE IN HEALTH INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY AND DELAYED OR FORGONE HEALTH CARE AMONG ADULTS APPROACHING RETIREMENT

摘要

Recent challenges to the ACA may add uncertainties to decision-making about health insurance. We sought to determine if health insurance affordability concerns were associated with delayed/forgone health care among adults approaching retirement age. In October 2018, the NPHA conducted an online survey of US adults age 50-64. 45% of respondents had littleo confidence in ability to afford health insurance when they retire, and 27% littleo confidence in this over the next year. In the past year, 13% had not gotten medical care and 12% had not filled a prescription because of cost concerns. Controlling for demographic and health characteristics, having littleo confidence in health insurance affordability in retirement/within the next year was associated with delaying/forgoing health care (aOR 2.80, p0.001). Despite the ACA’s coverage expansions and consumer protections, these findings suggest adults worry about the affordability of health insurance in retirement and may avoid needed health care for that reason.