News Brief

Update: Seniors Who Need Follow-Up For Mental Health Diagnoses Deterred by High Co-Pays: New York Times

As people grow older, so are their odds of developing chronic conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis and other complications.

Their out-of-pocket payments are growing, too.  Medicare beneficiaries who have three or more chronic conditions had an average of $2,588 coming out of their wallets in 2005, this item says.

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

“The percentage of U.S. residents who have chronic diseases has increased in recent years, and the trend has led to a large rise in out-of-pocket medical costs, according to a study published on Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, Reuters/Boston Globe reports. For the study, Kathryn Paez of Social & Scientific Systems and colleagues examined nationally representative government surveys that included responses from about 32,000 residents in 2005 and about 22,000 residents in 1996.

“The study found that in 2005 about 44% of residents had at least one chronic condition — such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, arthritis, heart failure and others — compared with 41% in 1996. In addition, the study found in 2005 that 13% of residents had three or more chronic diseases, compared with 7% in 1996. The study also found that average annual out-of-pocket medical costs rose to $741 in 2005 from $427 per resident in 1996, a 39% increase after adjustment for inflation.

“According to the study, Medicare beneficiaries who had three or more chronic conditions had average annual out-of-pocket medical costs of $2,588 in 2005 (Dunham, Reuters/Boston Globe, 1/6).”

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, January 7, 2008

Source: New York Times, January 7, 2008