After COVID-19: A Healthcare Forecast for Older Americans

Experts forecast that after the COVID-19 crisis, older Americans — especially Medicare beneficiaries — will routinely have medical appointments through telehealth and geriatricians will be highly sought after, reports Next Avenue . McKinsey & Company Health Care Systems and Services said while just 11 percent of U.S. consumers used telehealth last year, 46 percent have in recent months. While lockdowns have been a major driver, a key factor has been Medicare rule changes covering telehealth for people 65 and up. Due to the pandemic, beneficiaries can now receive telehealth in any location, including their homes, and Medicare can pay doctors the same rate for remote visits as for in-person visits. Private Medicare Advantage plans also now offer the latest telehealth technology as part of their basic benefit. "It's hard to imagine merely reverting to the way things were before," said U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma. The pandemic also is boosting the prospects for geriatricians, creating heightened awareness of the need for the services they provide. "I think the pandemic put the spotlight on older adults, which will likely increase the number of people going into the field," said health care consultant Robert Sullivan.