As deductibles, co-pays, and complex insurance structures increasingly shift financial responsibility onto patients, older adults—many of whom rely on fixed incomes and public insurance programs—face heightened vulnerability to financial uncertainty in healthcare. While prior research has examined cost-related barriers among specific disease populations, less attention has been given to how elderly primary care patients perceive and navigate the affordability and stability of their medical payments. This study investigates how older adults (65+) in New York City perceive out-of-pocket costs, insurance predictability, and financial anxiety, and how these perceptions influence decisions to seek, delay, or modify care.

Participants will be recruited through JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging) and NYC Health and Hospitals, where I will conduct structured interviews combining scaled survey questions and open-ended responses. These interviews will explore how elderly patients understand their insurance coverage, anticipate medical costs, and respond to financial uncertainty when making healthcare decisions. I expect the research to show that unpredictability in medical expenses—alongside high costs—contributes to delayed care, reduced visits, or hesitation to seek treatment.

By centering elderly patients who frequently require ongoing primary and preventive care, this research aims to highlight how financial instability shapes healthcare access and contributes to broader inequities within the American healthcare system. Partaking in this research will allow me to learn how to reshape the healthcare system, making patients– not profits– at the center.