Many Who Postponed Health Care During COVID Are Still Waiting

In a sign that the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on routine health care, many of the nearly one-third of older Americans who had a medical procedure, primary care visit or dental appointment canceled or postponed due to COVID still haven't received that care, according to the National Poll on Health Aging. Of the more than 1,000 adults aged 50 and older who were surveyed online or by phone in late January, 14% said they had postponed, rescheduled or canceled a procedure, operation or test in the past year, and another 8% said their provider had done so. Among those who had an appointment scheduled to have a procedure, test or operation in 2021, 28% said it was disrupted due to COVID. Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren is the associate director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging.