Racial Disparity in Disruption to Basic Needs Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had affected older adults and people of color the most, in terms of both health and everyday life.1 The mortality rate of Black Americans from COVID-19 was nearly twice the rate of White Americans,2 and the hospitalization rate of Black Americans was 2.6 times higher than that of White Americans.3 Meanwhile, Black Americans were twice as likely to have been laid off or furloughed as White Americans,4 making it especially difficult to pay for basic necessities during the pandemic.