Disparities in Healthcare Access Exacerbated During COVID-19 Pandemic Among LGBTQ+ Older Adults

Strategic Insights -

Research on geriatrics and gerontology published by investigators has highlighted disparities in healthcare access among LGBTQ+ older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these disparities have become more pronounced, specifically among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer + (LGBTQ+) individuals aged 65 and older. A study conducted by Washington University examined the relationship between social assets and healthcare utilization among LGBTQ+ older adults, focusing on income, education, and employment. The research found that LGBTQ+ individuals were less likely to have primary healthcare providers and health insurance compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities in healthcare access among LGBTQ+ older adults, with 6.14% of participants identifying as LGBTQ+, and 11% of them being unemployed.
  • LGBTQ+ individuals were less likely to have primary healthcare providers (OR=0.64; CI=0.48-0.84) and health insurance (OR=0.60; CI=0.39-0.93) compared to non-LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • There was no association found between LGBTQ+ individuals being less likely to seek medical help due to cost (OR=0.72; CI=0.53-1.02).
  • The study suggests that disparities in socioeconomic status, such as income, employment, and education, have a significant association with healthcare accessibility and utilization.
  • The study's limitations include recall bias due to self-report and the need for longitudinal and qualitative research on healthcare utilization and accessibility among older LGBTQ+ individuals.

Statistics:

  • 6.14% of participants identified as LGBTQ+, with 11% of them being unemployed.
  • 21% of LGBTQ+ individuals earned less than $15,000 annually, and 35% of them did not graduate from high school.
  • A total sample size of 14,453 was used in the study.
  • The study found that LGBTQ+ individuals were 64% less likely to have primary healthcare providers and 40% less likely to have health insurance.

Sources:

  • Innovation in Aging, "Healthcare Accessibility And Utilization Among Lgbtq+ Older Adults", 2022, 6(Supplement_1), Oxford University Press (OUP), https://academic.oup.com/innovateage
  • http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.1950
  • Washington University, Menlo Park, California, United States