COVID-19-Related Deaths and Excess Deaths among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries

Millions of Americans have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and more than 575,000 had died as of early May 2021. Understanding who are the most vulnerable populations for COVID-19 mortality and excess deaths is critical, especially as the US prioritizes vaccine distribution. Using Medicare administrative data, we found that beneficiaries residing in nursing homes, the oldest beneficiaries, members of racial/ethnic minority groups, beneficiaries with multiple comorbid conditions, and beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid were disproportionately likely to die after infection with SARS-CoV-2. As the pandemic developed, Medicare data were quickly adapted to provide analyses and inform the nation's response to COVID-19. Similar data for the rest of the population, however, are not readily available. Developing policies and methods around data collection and access will be important to address the consequences of future pandemics and other health emergencies.