ABSTRACT
Using the 2018-2021 National Health Interview Survey data, we examined the associations between healthcare cost burden and depressive/anxious feelings in older adults. Nearly12% reported healthcare cost burden and 18% daily/weekly depressive/anxious feelings. Healthcare cost burden was higher among women, racial/ethnic minorities, those with chronic illnesses, mobility impairment, and those with Medicare Part D, but lower among individuals with Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility, Medicare Advantage, VA/military insurance, and private insurance. Daily/weekly depressive/anxious feelings was higher among healthcare cost burden reporters. The COVID-19 pandemic-related medical care access problems were also associated with a higher risk of reporting healthcare cost burden and depression/anxiety.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Author contributions
study conceptualization: NGC, BYC, CNM, MEK; data management: NGC; data analysis and interpretation: NGC, CNM; manuscript draft: NGC, BYC, MEK; final editing: NGC, BYC, CNM, MEK
Research ethics
This study based on de-identified public-domain data was exempt by the University of Texas at Austin’s Institutional Review Board.