Recessions and seniors' health, health behaviors, and healthcare use: Analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey

► We find that elderly mortality is countercyclical in recent years. ► We use MCBS data to examine seniors' health and healthcare use during recessions. ► Mental health worsens during recessions, and health behaviors do not improve. ► We find suggestive evidence that inpatient utilization increases. ► This may reflect increased provider willingness to accept Medicare patients.