{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"140259","rtpr_id":"nGNX2PDCMc-20260910","ticker":"ALHC","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["ALHC"],"title":"Alignment Health’s Fifth Annual Survey Finds Seniors Falling Further Behind: Aging in Place Challenges Continue to Rise as Support Gaps Widen","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-10T12:00:00.474Z","article_body":"ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ninety percent of seniors\nreport at least one factor affecting their health, independence or access to\ncare, according to the newly released 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in\nAmerica survey from Alignment Health, conducted in partnership with Ipsos. The\nfifth annual study finds that the challenges threatening healthy aging are\nworsening, reinforcing concerns that the systems supporting older Americans\nare struggling to keep pace with growing needs. The study reports that\naging-in-place challenges, including concerns about independence and physical\nlimitations, increased 4 percentage points year over year, while support gaps\nand medical debt also rose, highlighting continued pressure on seniors'\nability to remain healthy and independent.\n\n“Our findings reinforce what older adults have been telling us for years:\nhealthy aging is about much more than what happens during a doctor’s\nvisit,” said Dr. Ken Kim, chief medical officer at Alignment Health. “This\nyear's results show that many seniors continue to face challenges related to\nmaintaining their independence, accessing care and managing financial\npressures. These findings reinforce that maintaining health and independence\ndepends on much more than their medical care alone.”\n\nFor the third consecutive year, seniors identified aging in place challenges\n(i.e., difficulty maintaining independence, remaining safely at home, or\nmanaging physical limitations), healthcare access (i.e., difficulty finding\ncare, obtaining appointments, or accessing providers) and economic instability\n(i.e., concerns about affording healthcare and basic living expenses, medical\ndebt, and rising costs) as the three greatest threats to healthy aging. More\nthan one-quarter of seniors reported skipping needed medical care during the\npast year, and more than half reported experiencing stress or anxiety.\n\nThe study examined nine social barriers to aging well: aging in place\nchallenges, economic instability, access to healthcare, transportation, lack\nof support, mental health, loneliness, cultural barriers and food insecurity.\nRespondents were also asked about the services and benefits they would be most\nlikely to use if offered through their health plan.\n\nKey Findings\nThe survey identified several significant trends affecting seniors nationwide:\n* 90% of seniors report at least one social barrier affecting their health,\nwell-being or access to care.\n* 68% face aging-in-place challenges that affect their ability to remain\nsafely and independently in their homes, making it the most commonly reported\nbarrier, up four percentage points from 2025.\n* 62% experience barriers to accessing needed healthcare services, including\nlong waits for medical appointments.\n* 54% cite economic instability, while 16% carry medical debt and 22% are\nuncertain they can cover future medical expenses.\n* 38% lack sufficient support systems, a four-point increase from 2025.\n* 57% experienced stress or anxiety in the past 12 months.\nSkipping Healthcare Due to Social Challenges\nThe findings suggest social and economic challenges are increasingly affecting\nhealthcare engagement. More than one-quarter of seniors (26%) reported\nskipping needed medical care during the past year. Among them, 57% cited\naccess-related barriers as a reason for missing care. Notably, 34% cited\naging-in-place challenges, a seven-point increase from 2025, suggesting that\ndifficulties maintaining independence are increasingly preventing seniors from\ngetting the care they need.\n\nSeniors Seek Support Beyond Traditional Healthcare\nThe research also found strong interest in benefits and services that address\nsocial needs alongside medical care.\n\nSeniors expressed the greatest interest in personalized wellness\nrecommendations based on their medical history and information shared with\ntheir health plan (59%), followed by 24/7 access to doctors by phone or video\n(57%). Nearly one-half would use help paying for groceries (49%) or fresh food\ndelivery (47%), while 43% would use a personal medical safety alert system and\n42% would use memory exercises or other memory care support.\n\nNot All Communities Prioritize the Same Supports\n\nThe survey also identified differences in the types of services seniors find\nmost valuable across states. Surveyed seniors in North Carolina and Nevada\nexpressed significantly greater interest in financial support services than\nseniors nationally. More than one-half of surveyed seniors in North Carolina\nreported they would use help paying rent, mortgage or utilities (52% vs. 44%\nnationally) and help paying for gas for their car (54% vs. 42% nationally).\nSurveyed seniors in Nevada reported similarly elevated interest in both\nservices (54% and 49%, respectively). In North Carolina, surveyed seniors also\nexpressed greater interest in services that support aging at home, including\nhome safety modifications (50% vs. 39% nationally) and memory-care support\n(54% vs. 42% nationally).\n\nThe complete 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey can be\naccessed here: alignmenthealth.com/survey2026\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=jTqiqIRYEhn2T4Oj6XrCBCC7ucnklnTxr62bDyGk0hB-0Qce7WBMJfLbvTp2Py70bIsU4FviKkN98HFChl-HXjMXvmBjXIrjSJtaUcJa2C1fWJtkuvUyQV6cBEWGyP9aipkRjKHpE4BhwrqwF8jBWA==)\n\nAbout 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America\nThis is the fifth consecutive year that Alignment Health has studied the\nsocial and environmental factors affecting U.S. seniors’ health, and the\nthird year in a row it has partnered with Ipsos, one of the world's largest\nmarket research and polling companies. The nationwide survey polled more than\n2,200 Americans age 65 and older. The survey was offered in English and\nSpanish and is representative of the national senior population across key\ndemographic characteristics.\n\nAbout Alignment Health\nAlignment Health is championing a new path in senior care that empowers\nmembers to age well and live their most vibrant lives. A consumer brand name\nof Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC), Alignment Health’s mission-focused\nteam makes high-quality, low-cost care a reality for its Medicare Advantage\nmembers every day. Based in California, the company partners with nationally\nrecognized and trusted local providers to deliver coordinated care, powered by\nits customized care model, 24/7 concierge care team and purpose-built\ntechnology, AVA(®). As it expands its offerings and grows its national\nfootprint, Alignment upholds its core values of leading with a serving heart\nand putting the senior first. For more information, visit\nwww.alignmenthealth.com.\n\nMedia Contact\nJerry Slowey\npublicrelations@ahcusa.com \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6122501-032d-4425-bb0d-759ee3d3fe68)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX2PDCMc-20260910","title":"Alignment Health’s Fifth Annual Survey Finds Seniors Falling Further Behind: Aging in Place Challenges Continue to Rise as Support Gaps Widen","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"ALHC","created":"2026-09-10T12:00:00.474Z","tickers":["ALHC"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ninety percent of seniors\nreport at least one factor affecting their health, independence or access to\ncare, according to the newly released 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in\nAmerica survey from Alignment Health, conducted in partnership with Ipsos. The\nfifth annual study finds that the challenges threatening healthy aging are\nworsening, reinforcing concerns that the systems supporting older Americans\nare struggling to keep pace with growing needs. The study reports that\naging-in-place challenges, including concerns about independence and physical\nlimitations, increased 4 percentage points year over year, while support gaps\nand medical debt also rose, highlighting continued pressure on seniors'\nability to remain healthy and independent.\n\n“Our findings reinforce what older adults have been telling us for years:\nhealthy aging is about much more than what happens during a doctor’s\nvisit,” said Dr. Ken Kim, chief medical officer at Alignment Health. “This\nyear's results show that many seniors continue to face challenges related to\nmaintaining their independence, accessing care and managing financial\npressures. These findings reinforce that maintaining health and independence\ndepends on much more than their medical care alone.”\n\nFor the third consecutive year, seniors identified aging in place challenges\n(i.e., difficulty maintaining independence, remaining safely at home, or\nmanaging physical limitations), healthcare access (i.e., difficulty finding\ncare, obtaining appointments, or accessing providers) and economic instability\n(i.e., concerns about affording healthcare and basic living expenses, medical\ndebt, and rising costs) as the three greatest threats to healthy aging. More\nthan one-quarter of seniors reported skipping needed medical care during the\npast year, and more than half reported experiencing stress or anxiety.\n\nThe study examined nine social barriers to aging well: aging in place\nchallenges, economic instability, access to healthcare, transportation, lack\nof support, mental health, loneliness, cultural barriers and food insecurity.\nRespondents were also asked about the services and benefits they would be most\nlikely to use if offered through their health plan.\n\nKey Findings\nThe survey identified several significant trends affecting seniors nationwide:\n* 90% of seniors report at least one social barrier affecting their health,\nwell-being or access to care.\n* 68% face aging-in-place challenges that affect their ability to remain\nsafely and independently in their homes, making it the most commonly reported\nbarrier, up four percentage points from 2025.\n* 62% experience barriers to accessing needed healthcare services, including\nlong waits for medical appointments.\n* 54% cite economic instability, while 16% carry medical debt and 22% are\nuncertain they can cover future medical expenses.\n* 38% lack sufficient support systems, a four-point increase from 2025.\n* 57% experienced stress or anxiety in the past 12 months.\nSkipping Healthcare Due to Social Challenges\nThe findings suggest social and economic challenges are increasingly affecting\nhealthcare engagement. More than one-quarter of seniors (26%) reported\nskipping needed medical care during the past year. Among them, 57% cited\naccess-related barriers as a reason for missing care. Notably, 34% cited\naging-in-place challenges, a seven-point increase from 2025, suggesting that\ndifficulties maintaining independence are increasingly preventing seniors from\ngetting the care they need.\n\nSeniors Seek Support Beyond Traditional Healthcare\nThe research also found strong interest in benefits and services that address\nsocial needs alongside medical care.\n\nSeniors expressed the greatest interest in personalized wellness\nrecommendations based on their medical history and information shared with\ntheir health plan (59%), followed by 24/7 access to doctors by phone or video\n(57%). Nearly one-half would use help paying for groceries (49%) or fresh food\ndelivery (47%), while 43% would use a personal medical safety alert system and\n42% would use memory exercises or other memory care support.\n\nNot All Communities Prioritize the Same Supports\n\nThe survey also identified differences in the types of services seniors find\nmost valuable across states. Surveyed seniors in North Carolina and Nevada\nexpressed significantly greater interest in financial support services than\nseniors nationally. More than one-half of surveyed seniors in North Carolina\nreported they would use help paying rent, mortgage or utilities (52% vs. 44%\nnationally) and help paying for gas for their car (54% vs. 42% nationally).\nSurveyed seniors in Nevada reported similarly elevated interest in both\nservices (54% and 49%, respectively). In North Carolina, surveyed seniors also\nexpressed greater interest in services that support aging at home, including\nhome safety modifications (50% vs. 39% nationally) and memory-care support\n(54% vs. 42% nationally).\n\nThe complete 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey can be\naccessed here: alignmenthealth.com/survey2026\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=jTqiqIRYEhn2T4Oj6XrCBCC7ucnklnTxr62bDyGk0hB-0Qce7WBMJfLbvTp2Py70bIsU4FviKkN98HFChl-HXjMXvmBjXIrjSJtaUcJa2C1fWJtkuvUyQV6cBEWGyP9aipkRjKHpE4BhwrqwF8jBWA==)\n\nAbout 2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America\nThis is the fifth consecutive year that Alignment Health has studied the\nsocial and environmental factors affecting U.S. seniors’ health, and the\nthird year in a row it has partnered with Ipsos, one of the world's largest\nmarket research and polling companies. The nationwide survey polled more than\n2,200 Americans age 65 and older. The survey was offered in English and\nSpanish and is representative of the national senior population across key\ndemographic characteristics.\n\nAbout Alignment Health\nAlignment Health is championing a new path in senior care that empowers\nmembers to age well and live their most vibrant lives. A consumer brand name\nof Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC), Alignment Health’s mission-focused\nteam makes high-quality, low-cost care a reality for its Medicare Advantage\nmembers every day. Based in California, the company partners with nationally\nrecognized and trusted local providers to deliver coordinated care, powered by\nits customized care model, 24/7 concierge care team and purpose-built\ntechnology, AVA(®). As it expands its offerings and grows its national\nfootprint, Alignment upholds its core values of leading with a serving heart\nand putting the senior first. For more information, visit\nwww.alignmenthealth.com.\n\nMedia Contact\nJerry Slowey\npublicrelations@ahcusa.com \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6122501-032d-4425-bb0d-759ee3d3fe68)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-10T12:00:00.614661342Z","server_sent_at_ms":1789041600614},"received_at":"2026-09-10T12:00:00.674Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"129095","press_release_id":"140259","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Health Care Providers & Services","sector":"Health Care"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"Alignment Health's fifth annual Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey, conducted with Ipsos and polling more than 2,200 Americans age 65 and older, finds 90% of seniors report at least one social barrier affecting their health, independence or access to care.\n\nAging-in-place challenges are the most commonly reported barrier at 68%, up four percentage points from 2025, and 26% of seniors say they skipped needed medical care in the past year.\n\nSeniors expressed strong interest in non-medical benefits delivered through health plans: 59% want personalized wellness recommendations and 57% want 24/7 doctor access by phone or video, with notable state-level variation in North Carolina and Nevada.\n\nThe release contains no financial figures or operational changes for ALHC; it is brand thought leadership that reinforces the company's whole-person Medicare Advantage positioning.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Survey data underscores rising senior support gaps — background color for ALHC's Medicare Advantage benefit design, not a tradable event."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"pct_medical_debt":"16%","survey_respondents":"more than 2,200 Americans age 65 and older","pct_stress_or_anxiety":"57%","pct_skipped_needed_care":"26%","pct_economic_instability":"54%","pct_lack_support_systems":"38% (up 4 points from 2025)","pct_aging_in_place_challenges":"68% (up 4 points from 2025)","pct_healthcare_access_barriers":"62%","pct_interest_24_7_doctor_access":"57%","pct_interest_personalized_wellness":"59%","pct_report_at_least_one_social_barrier":"90%"}},"quotedText":"healthy aging is about much more than what happens during a doctor’s visit","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Ken Kim","role":"Chief Medical Officer, Alignment Health"},{"name":"Jerry Slowey","role":"media contact"}],"products":["2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America (annual survey)","AVA"],"companies":[{"name":"Alignment Health","ticker":"ALHC","relationship":"filer (consumer brand of Alignment Healthcare)"},{"name":"Ipsos","relationship":"survey partner / market research firm"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"This is issuer-authored thought-leadership PR: the fifth annual survey published with Ipsos. It contains no financial results, guidance, or operational changes for ALHC — only brand positioning around whole-person senior care."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"ALHC"},"globalImportance":12,"audienceRelevance":18,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small/mid-cap","eventGravity":"annual-survey-thought-leadership","issuerAuthored":true,"financialImpact":"none","retailFavoriteBoost":"slight — ALHC is a retail-followed Medicare Advantage name but the content is non-financial"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Alignment Health's fifth annual Social Threats to Aging Well in America survey, conducted with Ipsos and polling more than 2,200 Americans age 65 and older, finds 90% of seniors report at least one social barrier affecting their health, independence or access to care.\n\nAging-in-place challenges are the most commonly reported barrier at 68%, up four percentage points from 2025, and 26% of seniors say they skipped needed medical care in the past year.\n\nSeniors expressed strong interest in non-medical benefits delivered through health plans: 59% want personalized wellness recommendations and 57% want 24/7 doctor access by phone or video, with notable state-level variation in North Carolina and Nevada.\n\nThe release contains no financial figures or operational changes for ALHC; it is brand thought leadership that reinforces the company's whole-person Medicare Advantage positioning.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"pct_medical_debt":"16%","survey_respondents":"more than 2,200 Americans age 65 and older","pct_stress_or_anxiety":"57%","pct_skipped_needed_care":"26%","pct_economic_instability":"54%","pct_lack_support_systems":"38% (up 4 points from 2025)","pct_aging_in_place_challenges":"68% (up 4 points from 2025)","pct_healthcare_access_barriers":"62%","pct_interest_24_7_doctor_access":"57%","pct_interest_personalized_wellness":"59%","pct_report_at_least_one_social_barrier":"90%"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Ken Kim","role":"Chief Medical Officer, Alignment Health"},{"name":"Jerry Slowey","role":"media contact"}],"products":["2026 Social Threats to Aging Well in America (annual survey)","AVA"],"companies":[{"name":"Alignment Health","ticker":"ALHC","relationship":"filer (consumer brand of Alignment Healthcare)"},{"name":"Ipsos","relationship":"survey partner / market research firm"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flash","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-10T12:00:31.574Z","global_importance":12,"audience_relevance":18,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small/mid-cap","eventGravity":"annual-survey-thought-leadership","issuerAuthored":true,"financialImpact":"none","retailFavoriteBoost":"slight — ALHC is a retail-followed Medicare Advantage name but the content is non-financial"}},"durationMs":29908,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}