Forgone Health Care for Non–COVID-19–Related Needs Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Summer 2020–Winter 2021
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 19 — October 13, 2022
PEER REVIEWED
Figure.
Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who indicated forgoing health care, by whether primary care providers offered telehealth, summer 2020, fall 2020, and winter 2021. Availability of telemedicine was measured by asking Medicare beneficiaries, “Does your usual provider offer telephone or video appointments, so that you don’t need to physically visit their office or facility?” Abbreviation: PCP, primary care provider. Data source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (17–19).
| Period | Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who reported forgoing health care | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCP offers telehealth | PCP does not offer telehealth | ||
| Summer 2020 | 22.8 | 18.1 | Less than .001 |
| Fall 2020 | 8.7 | 7.3 | .06 |
| Winter 2021 | 7.2 | 5.6 | Less than .001 |
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