Since The Start Of COVID-19, More Than One-Third Of Medicare Beneficiaries Report Feeling Less Socially Connected To Friends & Family

Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency in March 2020, about 36.7% of Medicare beneficiaries have reported feeling less socially connected with friends and family. Six demographic characteristics were independently associated with feeling less socially connected. The characteristics and the likelihood of feeling less connected were: female gender (40.4%), white non-Hispanic (38.1%), an income of $25,000 or greater (38.5%), no Medicaid eligibility (38.1%), have a history of non-skin cancer (40.8%), or depression (41.6%).

During COVID-19, governments and health care professionals promoted six social . . .