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The key survey findings show that controlling costs and improving accessto health care are Delawareans' foremost concerns.
Costs are rising faster than people can pay for them. Advancing medicaltechnologies, and new and changing services and procedures all contribute tomedical inflation. With many Delawareans lacking health insurance orsubsidizing minimal coverage from employers or Medicare, access to alife-saving procedure or preventive measures to improve their health falls tothe wayside.
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According to the Delaware Health Care Commission, approximately 105,000Delaware residents -- 13 percent of the state population -- were withouthealth insurance in 2006. That means roughly one in seven Delawareans areuninsured. Although Delawareans are doing better than the nation as a whole inobtaining health insurance, the uninsured rate in the state has steadilyincreased over the past five years, raising concern among policymakers,residents, and specifically, AARP members. Notably, 60 percent of Delawareresidents 50+ are members of AARP.
Private, employment-based healthcare coverage continues to be the singlemost popular means of coverage in the nation, with governmental programs likeMedicare and Medicaid as another major source. However, coverage for the 50-64year-old population presents a unique challenge. While many in thisdemographic are gainfully employed, those who may have retired early, beenlaid-off, suffered an illness, or are caring for a relative struggle to findways to continue health care coverage for themselves and the families.Additionally, this boomer generation will soon reach full retirement. Willthey maintain access to all the healthcare options necessary?
Consider this: the average American 2-person household under age 65 spends$514 per year on health care costs. After age 65, that number jumps to $2,308-- and with decreased income. These numbers do not include the cost ofprescription drugs.
The time is now to convene and contribute to solutions aimed at providingeach resident, regardless of income level, with access to affordablehealthcare coverage.
View Delaware Health Care: A Study of Challenges, A Case for Change athttp://www.aarp.org/de.
For more information on AARP's activity surrounding health care issues,visit http://www.dividedwefail.org.
Additional information: http://www.aarp.org
SOURCE AARP Delaware
