Low-income, Rural Elders' Perceptions of Financial Security and Health Care Costs

ABSTRACT

Despite Medicare coverage, health care expenses consume a significant proportion of older Americans' incomes. These costs can be particularly difficult for low-income elders. Rural elders face some unique challenges including lower incomes and higher health care costs, on average. This study examines the perceptions of a sample of low-income rural elders (n = 66) regarding their employment history, current income, financial security, health status, level of health insurance, and ability to meet basic needs and health care costs. In general, study participants were happy to be living rurally, although many had had restricted employment opportunities throughout their lives with resulting low retirement incomes. Health care expenses were burdensome for many. The article concludes with advice to policy makers from the study participants and by examining how the recent Medicare reform might help or hurt these elders.

KEYWORDS:

• Rural elders
• gerontology
• medicare
• poverty
• health care costs