Unless health care practices or public policy change, seniors’ out-of-pocket spending will likely grow in coming years as health care costs continue to increase.
50% increase in the median annual real out-of-pocket costs for Americans age 65 and older, from about $2,600 to about $6,200 in the next 30 years.
One in 10 older adults will spend more than $14,000 per year on health care in 2040.
9% increase in the median share of household income spent on health care by adults age 65 and older, between 2010 and 2040.
17% increase by 2030, and 27% increase by 2040, in the share of adults age 65 and older spending more than a fifth of their household income on health care.
52% increase in the share of older Americans with burdensome costs if employers eliminate all retiree health benefits by 2040.
18% increase between 2010 and 2040 of the median share of income spent on health care by older adults in the bottom fifth of the income distribution.
Source: Urban Institute