Healthcare for the elderly in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts

The population of Americans aged 65 years and older is constantly increasing. Every Baby Boomer will be 65 or older by 2030, making one in five Americans eligible for retirement. Even though older Americans are living longer and are overall healthier, most of them at least have one chronic health condition, and many have multiple health issues. Arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are the most common chronic diseases among older adults. The rising aging population is leading to an increase in demand for elderly health care. In the U.S., publicly funded Medicare and Medicaid are the most popular programs providing healthcare for the elderly. In recent years, more and more older Americans are choosing to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans as they provide extended benefits tailored to meet specific healthcare needs.

Healthcare costs

An average healthy couple retiring in 2023, is estimated to spend 69 percent of their social security benefits on healthcare costs throughout retirement. Most Americans have not saved enough to meet their healthcare needs. Despite having health insurance coverage, unforeseen health costs can plunge seniors into unmanageable medical debt or bankruptcy. Older adults with medical debt are more likely to skip filling a prescription and forgo medical care, compared to those without medical debt. To limit health costs seniors often make trade-offs that can be harmful to their long-term health and finances. Healthcare expenses rise exponentially in the last few years of life, nearly ten percent of all healthcare costs in the U.S. is spent on end-of-life care. Out-of-pocket costs for long-term care can deplete one's financial assets and even burden the family members. In 2020, older Americans were the smallest population group but accounted for nearly 37 percent of total healthcare spending.

Long-term care

Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) are programs that support the elderly and people with disabilities. Long-term care (LTC) facilities are crucial service providers in the continuum of care. Most of the long-term care is not medical care but rather aid and support with basic personal tasks of daily living. The elderly who get home and community-based services (HCBS) can stay in their homes and communities while receiving necessary care. Most adults aged 65 and above rely on unpaid caregivers, such as family members, for long-term care. According to HHS research, at the age of 65, nearly six in ten senior adults will require assistance with at least two activities of daily living, 56 percent will use paid LTSS, and 39 percent will require nursing home care. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term care services; however, recipients frequently face substantial deductibles and copays, and the program excludes certain services. When it comes to providing healthcare for the elderly, the United States faces two key challenges: the lack of a uniform funding structure for long-term care and a shortage of care workers.

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Healthiest state for elderly healthcare in the U.S.: Utah

Projected share of elderly population in U.S. in 2050: 22%

Elderly population with Medicare Advantage coverage: 34.2%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Total Medicaid enrollment from 1966 to 2022 (in millions)

Public Health Programs

Total Medicaid enrollment 1966-2022

Total Medicaid spending in the U.S. in FY 2021, by state (in billion U.S. dollars)

Public Health Programs

Total Medicaid spending in the U.S. 2021, by state

Distribution of Medicare and Medicaid spending in 2021*

Health System

Spending distribution of Medicare and Medicaid 2021

Recommended statistics

Overview

Basic Statistic U.S. - seniors as a percentage of the population 1950-2050
U.S. - seniors as a percentage of the population 1950-2050
Share of old age population (65 years and older) in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2050
Premium Statistic U.S. population aged 65 years and over 2021, by state
U.S. population aged 65 years and over 2021, by state
Population aged 65 years and over in the United States in 2021, by state (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic Number of senior housing units in the U.S. Q1 2021, by region
Number of senior housing units in the U.S. Q1 2021, by region
Volume of senior housing units in the United States as of 1st quarter 2021, by region (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic States ranking for best health and healthcare for senior adults in the U.S. in 2023
States ranking for best health and healthcare for senior adults in the U.S. in 2023
Ranking of states for best health and healthcare for adults older than 65 years in the U.S. in 2023
Premium Statistic U.S. population with a hospitalization 1997-2019, by age
U.S. population with a hospitalization 1997-2019, by age
Percentage of U.S. population with a hospitalization in past year from 1997 to 2019, by age
Premium Statistic Forecast retirement healthcare cost index in the U.S. 2023-2047
Forecast retirement healthcare cost index in the U.S. 2023-2047
Forecast retirement healthcare cost index for a healthy 65-year-old couple retiring in the U.S. in 2023

Health insurance

Premium Statistic Share of health insurance coverage among U.S. elderly population in 2021, by coverage
Share of health insurance coverage among U.S. elderly population in 2021, by coverage
Distribution of health insurance among people aged 65 years and older in the U.S. in 2021, by coverage type
Premium Statistic Healthcare coverage share among U.S. elderly population in 2021, by race and coverage
Healthcare coverage share among U.S. elderly population in 2021, by race and coverage
Distribution of health insurance coverage people aged 65 years and older in the U.S. in 2021, by race and coverage type
Premium Statistic Senior citizens with Medicaid health insurance in the U.S. 2017-2022
Senior citizens with Medicaid health insurance in the U.S. 2017-2022
Share of adults aged 65 years and older with Medicaid coverage in the U.S. from 2017 to 2022
Premium Statistic U.S. firms offering retiree health benefits in 2023, by industry
U.S. firms offering retiree health benefits in 2023, by industry
Percentage of large U.S. firms offering retiree health benefits as of 2023, by industry
Basic Statistic Reliance on long-term care support sources in the U.S. population 2021, by source
Reliance on long-term care support sources in the U.S. population 2021, by source
What aid are you relying on to support the costs of your ongoing living assistance needs (long-term care)?

Nursing home

Basic Statistic Distribution of nursing homes in the U.S. 2015-2023, by certification type
Distribution of nursing homes in the U.S. 2015-2023, by certification type
Distribution of nursing homes in the United States from 2015 to 2023, by certification type
Premium Statistic Distribution of nursing homes in the U.S. 2003-2023, by ownership type
Distribution of nursing homes in the U.S. 2003-2023, by ownership type
Distribution of nursing homes in the United States from 2003 to 2023, by ownership type
Premium Statistic Number of nursing home beds per facility in the U.S. states 2023
Number of nursing home beds per facility in the U.S. states 2023
Average number of certified nursing facility beds in the United States in 2023, per facility and by state
Basic Statistic Percentage of persons employed in hospitals 2000-2022
Percentage of persons employed in hospitals 2000-2022
Persons employed in hospitals as a percentage of all employed in health service sites in the U.S. from 2000 to 2022
Basic Statistic U.S. number of residents in certified nursing facilities as of 2023, by state
U.S. number of residents in certified nursing facilities as of 2023, by state
Number of residents in certified nursing facilities in the United States as of 2023, by state
Basic Statistic Occupancy rate of U.S. skilled nursing facilities from 2020-2021
Occupancy rate of U.S. skilled nursing facilities from 2020-2021
Median occupancy rate of U.S. skilled nursing facility beds in 2020 and 2021

Assisted living and long-term care

Premium Statistic Share of spending on long-term services and supports in the U.S. in 2020, by payer
Share of spending on long-term services and supports in the U.S. in 2020, by payer
Distribution of spending on long-term services and supports (LTSS) in the U.S. in 2020, by payer
Premium Statistic Number of assisted living communities in the U.S. 2021
Number of assisted living communities in the U.S. 2021
Number of assisted living communities in the United States in 2021
Basic Statistic Share of assisted living communities in the United States by service 2021
Share of assisted living communities in the United States by service 2021
Percentage of assisted living communities in the U.S. that provide certain health care services as of 2021, by type of service*
Premium Statistic Number of hospice patients in the United States 2009-2021
Number of hospice patients in the United States 2009-2021
Number of Medicare beneficiaries who received hospice care in the U.S. from 2009 to 2021
Premium Statistic Number of U.S. hospice providers 2014-2021
Number of U.S. hospice providers 2014-2021
Number of operating Medicare certified hospice in the United States from 2014 to 2021
Basic Statistic U.S. health centers with patient-centered medical home recognition 2020, by state
U.S. health centers with patient-centered medical home recognition 2020, by state
Percentage of U.S. health centers with patient-centered medical home recognition as of 2020, by state

Caregivers

Premium Statistic Family caregivers count in the US, by state 2021
Family caregivers count in the US, by state 2021
Total number of family caregivers in the United States in 2021, by state
Premium Statistic Share of unpaid family caregiver residents in the U.S. 2021, by state
Share of unpaid family caregiver residents in the U.S. 2021, by state
Percentage of residents who are unpaid family caregivers in the United States in 2021, by state
Premium Statistic Distribution of family caregivers in the U.S. 2021, by race and ethnicity
Distribution of family caregivers in the U.S. 2021, by race and ethnicity
Share of family caregivers in the United States in 2021, by race and ethnicity
Basic Statistic Distribution of caregivers in the U.S. as of 2019, by patient age and status
Distribution of caregivers in the U.S. as of 2019, by patient age and status
Distribution of caregivers who provided care to select people in the U.S. as of 2019, by age and status
Basic Statistic Ages of Alzheimer/dementia caregivers in the U.S. in 2023
Ages of Alzheimer/dementia caregivers in the U.S. in 2023
Age distribution of Alzheimer and other dementia caregivers in the U.S. in 2023

Healthcare service costs

Premium Statistic 10 most expensive U.S. states for a room in an assisted living facility 2023
10 most expensive U.S. states for a room in an assisted living facility 2023
Top 10 U.S. states with highest annual cost for a private room in an assisted living facility in 2023 (in U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Annual costs of long-term care services in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Annual costs of long-term care services in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Annual median cost of long-term health care services in the United States as of 2023, by type (in U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Monthly cost of U.S. nursing homes in 2024, by room type and state
Monthly cost of U.S. nursing homes in 2024, by room type and state
Median monthly cost of nursing home in the United States in 2024*, by room type and state
Basic Statistic Cost of U.S. nursing homes daily, monthly, and annually in 2023, by room type
Cost of U.S. nursing homes daily, monthly, and annually in 2023, by room type
Median cost of nursing home care daily, monthly, and annually in the United States in 2023, by room type (in U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic 10 most expensive U.S. states for a private room in a nursing home facility 2023
10 most expensive U.S. states for a private room in a nursing home facility 2023
Top 10 U.S. states with highest annual cost for a private or semi-private room in a nursing home facility in 2023 (in U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Annual rate and growth in U.S. long-term facility care 2023
Annual rate and growth in U.S. long-term facility care 2023
Annual costs and increase of facility long-term care in the U.S. as of 2023
Premium Statistic Hourly rate and growth of long-term at-home care in the U.S. 2019-2060
Hourly rate and growth of long-term at-home care in the U.S. 2019-2060
Median hourly costs of at-home long-term care in the U.S. from 2019 to 2023, with a forecast for 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060 (in U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic 10 most expensive U.S. states for home health aide services 2023
10 most expensive U.S. states for home health aide services 2023
Top 10 U.S. states with highest annual cost for in-home care home health aide services in 2023 (in U.S. dollars)

Global comparison

Basic Statistic Share of older adults with mental health needs worldwide 2021
Share of older adults with mental health needs worldwide 2021
Percentage of adults aged 65 and older who reported a mental health need in 2021 worldwide
Basic Statistic Cost-related access issues among older adults with mental health needs worldwide 2021
Cost-related access issues among older adults with mental health needs worldwide 2021
Percentage of adults aged 65 and older with a mental health need who reported any cost-related access problem in 2021 worldwide
Basic Statistic Share of older adults with high out-of-pocket health costs worldwide 2021
Share of older adults with high out-of-pocket health costs worldwide 2021
Percentage of adults aged 65 and older who reported out-of-pocket health costs of more than 2,000 USD in the past year in select high-income countries in 2021
Basic Statistic Share of older adults forgoing health care due to cost worldwide 2021
Share of older adults forgoing health care due to cost worldwide 2021
Percentage of adults aged 65 and older who skipped doctor visit or medical test/treatment due to cost in the past year in select high-income countries in 2021

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Key figures

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