Prior to the pandemic, the Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund, out of which beneficiaries’ hospital bills are paid, was projected to be insolvent by 2026. Perhaps the most pressing issue for the next administration is the financial challenges created by COVID-19. As the presidential election draws near, a post–COVID-19 presidency will have to grapple with the ramifications of the pandemic, including the consequences for Medicare beneficiaries.įinancial Strain on Beneficiaries and the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have relaxed many rules in an attempt to combat these challenges, but questions remain about the long-term implications for beneficiaries. Measures taken to slow transmission of the virus may have also created new challenges for beneficiaries, by increasing social isolation and decreasing access to care. As of April 2020, about 4 out of every 5 COVID-19–related deaths in the United States have been among those aged 65 and older, despite this age group representing less than a third of laboratory-confirmed cases ( Patient Access Network Foundation, 2020). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that older adults and those with underlying medical conditions are most susceptible to severe illness, hospitalization, and mortality ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of all Americans, but the virus has disproportionately affected Medicare beneficiaries, including people 65 years and older and younger beneficiaries with serious disabilities.

Fallout 4 commonwealth challenges