Top reasons American seniors avoid going to the doctor

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

NEW RESEARCH SAYS MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR (28%) SENIORS HAVEN’T BEEN TO A DOCTOR IN OVER A YEAR BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD IT.

THE SURVEY BY CLEARMATCH MEDICARE AND ONEPOLL ASKED 2,000 PEOPLE 64 AND OLDER ABOUT THEIR DOCTOR APPOINTMENT EXPERIENCES.

WHILE TWO IN FIVE (40%) FEEL OPTIMISTIC AND CALM AT THE DOCTOR’S, ONE IN THREE (34%) SAY THEY FEEL ANXIOUS.

PAYING FOR VISITS PLAYS A BIG ROLE – IN FACT THE AVERAGE SENIOR REMEMBERS THEIR LOWEST COPAYS BEING $38. THEY SAY THE AVERAGE BILL NOW COMES TO $62, WITH HALF (49%) PAYING EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

AND SENIORS AREN’T JUST AVOIDING THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR – SEVEN IN 10 (71%) HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE DENTIST IN OVER A YEAR AND 57% HAVE PUT OFF SEEING A SPECIALIST, WITH COST BEING A TOP FACTOR FOR BOTH.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans 64+ was commissioned by ClearMatch Medicare between October 12 and November 1, 2022. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).