KFF Brief: Key Facts About Health Care Affordability for People With Medicare
A new KFF brief examines the health care affordability challenges facing people with Medicare, including premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug costs, long-term care expenses and medical debt.
Many Medicare beneficiaries have low incomes and modest savings, which can make it difficult to afford medical and long-term care services. In 2024, one in four Medicare beneficiaries, or 16.5 million people, had incomes below $24,600 per person. In 2023, Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs consumed 36% of Medicare beneficiaries’ average Social Security income per person.
The brief also highlights that long-term care services, which are generally not covered by Medicare, remain unaffordable for most beneficiaries. In 2025, the annual cost of a room in an assisted living facility was about $74,400, compared with a median household income of $43,200 for Medicare beneficiaries.
Read the brief.
Explore KFF’s work on Medicare.
Learn more about KFF.
Learn more about JAHF's co-support of KFF.
