A new study paints a stark picture of inequality: more Americans are dying before they ever qualify for Medicare, and Black adults are disproportionately affected. Between 2012 and 2022, premature mortality among adults aged 18 to 65 jumped by 27%, climbing from 243 to 309 deaths per 100,000. But the racial gap is even more alarming.
Black adults saw mortality rates soar from 309 to 427 deaths per 100,000—a 38% increase—compared to a 28% rise among White adults. “These are people who contribute to Medicare their entire lives yet never live long enough to use it,” said Irene Papanicolas of Brown University. “When you look through the lens of race, it’s clear that one group is increasingly dying before they ever see the benefits of the system they helped fund.”
The disparity spans most states, with only a few exceptions like New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah. In 2022, West Virginia recorded the highest mortality rate at 488 deaths per 100,000, while Massachusetts had the lowest at 225.
Researchers warn that these trends reflect systemic failures in health equity. Black communities face compounding risks—limited access to preventive care, chronic disease burdens, and socioeconomic barriers—that shorten lives long before Medicare eligibility. The findings underscore an urgent need for policies that address racial health disparities, not just for seniors but for working-age adults who never reach retirement.
See: “More U.S. Adults Dying Before Realizing Medicare Benefits” (November 25, 2025)
