Seventy-three percent of U.S. adults under the age of 65 report that they are “worried” (41%) or “extremely worried” (32%) that Medicare will not be available when they are eligible to receive it, a six-percentage-point jump since 2022, according to a new study by West Health and Gallup. The increase in concern is sharpest among those aged 50 to 64 (up 13 points to 74%) and 40 to 49 (up nine points to 83%, the highest level of all age groups).
Worries over Social Security are even higher and have also grown significantly -- 80% of respondents report that they are worried (33%) or extremely worried (47%), compared with 75% in 2022. Among those aged 50 to 61 -- the group closest to being eligible for Social Security -- 81% are now worried, compared with 72% in 2022, a nine-point increase.
The Social Security trust fund will run out in just nine years.
