High health care costs put strain on seniors

The Great Recession of 2008 took a toll on older Americans. A report from the AARP Public Policy Institute says the typical senior has seen a lower income and higher expenses. State AARP director David Mitchell says one place that's showing up is in the cost of health care, where seniors are spending an average of $3,100 a year.

“Right here in Arizona , those expenses are even higher,” Mitchell said. “It’s estimated that Medicare beneficiaries in Arizona spend about $3,800 on health care.”

Mitchell says the reason health care costs are higher here is that many seniors are using high-cost specialty health-care programs that are not completely covered by Medicare.