COVID-19 Pandemic Disproportionately Impacted Care Utilization for Asian American and Pacific Islander Medicare Beneficiaries

Strategic Insights -

A new report highlights the significant disruptions to healthcare services experienced by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite initial declines in care utilization across all racial and ethnic groups, AAPI beneficiaries suffered larger disruptions, with decreases in ambulatory visits, visit rates, and spending. These disparities were particularly pronounced compared to Black, Hispanic, and White beneficiaries, underscoring the need for targeted research and policy interventions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in care utilization for all racial and ethnic groups, with decreases in ambulatory visits, visit rates, and spending.
  • AAPI beneficiaries experienced larger disruptions to care utilization, with decreases in ambulatory visits, visit rates, and spending compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
  • Trends among AAPI beneficiaries were unique and differed in cause and/or magnitude from disruptions affecting other groups, highlighting the importance of targeted research and policy interventions.
  • Racial/ethnic disparities in care utilization may be overlooked if results are only reported for some sub-groups.
  • The study found that the start of the pandemic was associated with decreases in the percentage of beneficiaries with 1 ambulatory visit, ambulatory visit rate, and ambulatory spending, among all racial/ethnic groups.
  • AAPI beneficiaries suffered larger disruptions to all three measures of utilization compared to other racial/ethnic groups.
  • The study highlights the need for additional research on the experiences of AAPI individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statistics:

  • 8% decrease in ambulatory visits among all racial and ethnic groups (Health Equity, 2024, 8(1):800-805).
  • 12% decrease in ambulatory visit rate among AAPI beneficiaries (Health Equity, 2024, 8(1):800-805).
  • 10% decrease in ambulatory spending among AAPI beneficiaries (Health Equity, 2024, 8(1):800-805).
  • 1.5 times larger disruptions to care utilization among AAPI beneficiaries compared to other racial/ethnic groups (Health Equity, 2024, 8(1):800-805).

Sources:

  • Differential Trends in Health Care Utilization and Spending Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Medicare Beneficiaries before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health Equity, 2024, 8(1):800-805.
  • American Institutes for Research Researchers Illuminate Research in COVID-19 (Differential Trends in Health Care Utilization and Spending Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Medicare Beneficiaries before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic). Elder Law Weekly. May 28, 2025; p 40.