CMS Survey Data Illustrates Impact of COVID-19 on Medicare Beneficiaries’ Daily Life and Experiences

Late last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released data showing that 21 percent of Medicare beneficiaries report forgoing non-coronavirus disease 2019 care because of the pandemic. Researchers also found that almost all of beneficiaries — 98 percent — have taken preventative measures to keep themselves safe from the virus. The survey shows that the most common type of forgone care because of the crisis was dental care (43 percent), followed by regular check-ups (36 percent) and treatment for an ongoing condition (also 36 percent). The No. 1 reason cited for forgoing care was "not wanting to risk being at a medical facility" (45 percent). Regarding preventative health behaviors, almost all beneficiaries cited at least one or more actions they have taken to safeguard themselves, with regular handwashing/hand sanitizer use topping the list (98 percent).