MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb 27, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. adults have postponed
or skipped treatments due to cost, as economic conditions worsened during the
past year, a survey indicates.
Kaiser Family Foundation's healthcare tracking poll found 53 percent of
Americans say their household cut back on healthcare due to cost concerns in the
past 12 months.
Thirty-five percent say they rely on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs
rather than visiting a doctor, while 34 percent report skipping on dental care.
Twenty-seven percent report putting off healthcare they needed, 21 percent say
they have not filled a prescription and 15 percent say they cut pills in half or
skipped doses to make a prescription last longer.
Sixteen percent report putting off care for a more serious problem, either
postponing a doctor's visit related to a chronic illness such as diabetes or
delaying major or minor surgery.
Not all medical care can be postponed, however, and the survey indicates that
roughly 19 percent experienced serious financial problems recently due to family
medical bills. Thirty-four percent say they are worried they will lose their
health insurance.
The survey of 1,204 U.S. adults was conducted Feb. 3-12 in English and Spanish
and has a margin of error of plus/minus 3 percentage points.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International