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September 3, 2026Journal of Medical EconomicsOpen Access

Costs and healthcare resource utilization after COVID-19 hospitalization among US Medicare patients: a retrospective claims analysis

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Why the study?

The study aimed to quantify all-cause direct healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization in the six months before and after COVID-19 hospitalization among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries during the recent Omicron period.

Does COVID-19 hospitalization increase healthcare costs and resource utilization in Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years?

Population

Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years hospitalized with COVID-19

Comparison

Six months post-discharge vs six months pre-admission

Design

Retrospective observational study with a within-group pre/post design

Follow-up

Six months post-discharge

Key result

COVID-19 hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries was associated with substantial increases in post-discharge healthcare costs and utilization compared to the pre-admission period (P<0.001).

Authors

AYAlon YehoshuaPfizer (United States)RBRachel BlackTelesage (United States)AZAnan ZhouGenesis Research Institute

Discussion

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Overview

May warrant caution in post-discharge planning for Medicare beneficiaries; leaves open whether interventions can mitigate excess utilization.

Key Points

  • To quantify all-cause direct healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization in the six months before and after COVID-19-associated hospitalization among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.
  • Analyzed 100% Medicare Fee-for-Service claims data for beneficiaries aged ≥65 years hospitalized with COVID-19 between September 2023 and September 2024.
  • Required continuous enrollment for six months before admission and six months after discharge.
  • Used a within-group pre/post study design to compare mean cumulative per-patient costs and healthcare resource utilization, stratified by initial hospitalization severity and post-discharge care setting.
  • COVID-19 hospitalization is associated with statistically significant increases in direct healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization in the six months post-discharge compared with pre-admission (P < 0.001).
  • Increases in post-discharge costs and resource utilization are greatest among individuals with higher acute illness severity and those requiring post-acute care.

Study Design

Type

Observational

Structured PICO

Does COVID-19 hospitalization increase healthcare costs and resource utilization in Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years?

P
Population
US Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with a COVID-19 hospitalization and continuous enrollment for six months pre-admission and post-discharge.
E
Exposure
COVID-19 hospitalization
C
Comparator
Six-month pre-admission period (within-group pre/post design)
O
Outcome
Mean cumulative per-patient all-cause direct healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) during the six-month post-discharge period compared to pre-admission

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

COVID-19 hospitalization among older adults is associated with substantial and sustained increases in post-discharge healthcare costs and resource utilization.

Cite This Study

Yehoshua et al. (2026) conducted an observational in COVID-19. COVID-19 hospitalization vs. Pre-admission period was evaluated on Mean cumulative per-patient healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization (p=<0.001). COVID-19 hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries was associated with substantial increases in post-discharge healthcare costs and utilization compared to the pre-admission period (P<0.001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a99352e636c6408cfa7d203https://doi.org/10.1080/13696998.2026.2722823
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