Medicare recipients often receive a larger number of healthcare services in their last six to 12 months of life. But the most expensive age group of Medicare recipients may not be the oldest, reports Forbes.
That finding comes from a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and published in HealthAffairs.
Below are four findings from the study.
1. Medicare recipients aged 65 years old are relatively inexpensive for Medicare, costing the program a little more than $5,000 per person. Overall, patients 65 to 69 years old make up a quarter of the Medicare population but account for less than one-sixth of Medicare spending.
2. Medicare recipients aged 96 are the most expensive age group for the program, costing the program about $16,145 per person. The price-per-person for 85-year-old Medicare recipients is much higher, however, at around $30,000 per enrollee. Overall, Medicare recipients over the age of 80 make up a quarter of the Medicare population but a third of the cost.
4. Healthcare spending drops off quickly for Medicare recipients aged 96 years and older. As patients continue to age, they are less likely to survive for as long or choose aggressive and expensive treatments.
5. Healthcare spending varies by site of care. According to the study, hospital care spending peaks for patients who are 89 years old. Hospice care spending peaks for patients who are 104 years old.