CMS survey data illustrates effect of COVID-19 on Medicare beneficiaries’ daily life and experiences

Approximately 21% of Medicare beneficiaries reported skipping non-COVID-19 care due to the pandemic, according to a new CMS survey. Dental care (43%) was the most common type of forgone care due to the pandemic, followed by regular check-ups (36%), treatment for ongoing conditions (36%), and diagnostic or medical screening tests (32%). Not wanting to risk being at a medical facility was the most common reason for avoiding care (45%), the survey found. In terms of COVID-19 preventative behaviors, 98% of beneficiaries reported regular handwashing and hand sanitizer use, followed by social distancing (93%) and wearing face masks (93%). The survey also asked about the effects of the pandemic on daily life and well-being, the availability of telemedicine appointments, access to technology, and sources of information about the pandemic. The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey COVID-19 Summer 2020 Supplement is a nationally representative, cross-sectional telephone survey or more than 11,100 Medicare beneficiaries administered from June 10 through July, 15, 2020.