The study aimed to examine the association between self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and delayed and/or forgone care (DFC) among older adults in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to assess how SPA and DFC are associated with change in self-rated health status. A cross-sectional study of community-dwelling US adults (≥50 years) was conducted using the 2020 Health and Retirement Study data. Two separate multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to assess the study objectives. The final unweighted sample was 4079. Negative SPA were associated with DFC (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). DFC and negative SPA were associated with worsened health status compared to respondent's previous interview wave (aOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.10-1.87 and aOR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08, respectively). Health promotion efforts should be implemented to foster positive SPA among older adults in the US to encourage timely use of healthcare.
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