In 2007, there were more than 4.7 million hospital stays among adults aged 55 to 64 years totaling $55.9 billion—16 percent of total hospital costs in the United States, according to a report published recently by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The number of people in this age group is expected to grow by 18 percent between 2010 and 2020—faster than any other age group younger than 65 years old.
Hospitalizations for these so called “near-elderly adults” were similar to those for the elderly in terms of length of stay, costs, and percentage of elective stays. The vast majority of stays in this Baby Boomer group were covered by public or private insurance and were less likely than hospital stays among middle-aged adults to be uninsured.
Statistical Brief #79: Hospital Utilization among Near-Elderly Adults, Ages 55 to 64 Years, 2007 presents data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Specifically, the report compares near-elderly hospital stays with other adult hospitalizations and examines differences in utilization and patient characteristics by insurance status. Additionally, this report provides information about the types of diagnoses most often associated with near-elderly hospitalizations and specific procedures commonly performed during these stays.
