New survey: Millions of
family caregivers go without needed health care, Have
problems paying medical bills
Informal Family Caregivers More Likely than Others to Miss
Work, Suffer from Chronic Illness, and Lack Health Insurance
Coverage
Sixteen million working-age adults now spend time caring for
a sick or disabled family member, yet more than half of
those adults—9 million—have health problems of their own,
according to new survey data released today by The
Commonwealth Fund.
Caregivers ages 19 to 64 are more likely than non-caregivers
not to work, to miss days of work if they are employed, and
to lack health insurance coverage. In fact, half of all
caregivers reported not getting needed care themselves due
to cost issues, and three out of five caregivers reported
having problems paying medical bills, according to the
report,
A Look at Working-Age Caregivers' Roles, Health Concerns,
and Need for Support, by Fund staff Alice Ho, Sara
Collins, Karen Davis, and Michelle Doty.
"Informal caregivers are playing an increasingly critical
support role in the U.S. health care system, especially as
the U.S. population continues to age and many people face
shorter hospital stays," said Commonwealth Fund President
Karen Davis. "But this study shows that there are health and
financial implications for caregivers. They have real needs
themselves that go unmet."
Many caregivers do not have paying jobs and those who are
working have high rates of absenteeism. Just 51 percent of
caregivers reported working full time, compared with
three-fifths of non-caregivers. Caregivers who are employed
were nearly twice as likely as employed non-caregivers to
miss six or more days of work during the year.
Caregivers often find themselves financially at risk and
unable to obtain health care. One-half of all caregivers
reported not getting needed health care due to cost,
compared with 35 percent of non-caregivers. Sixty percent of
caregivers reported problems with their medical bills,
compared with 39 percent on non-caregivers, according to the
survey.
The Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey,
which was conducted from September 2003 through January
2004, surveyed 4,052 adults ages 19 and older in the United
States.
According to the survey, women represent two-thirds of all
caregivers. Older women in particular are the most likely to
be caring for a sick or disabled family member, compared
with any other age group or gender. Women ages 50 to 64 are
two and a half times more likely to provide care than women
ages 19 to 29.
A
disproportionate number of caregivers are from lower-income
households. Forty-four percent of caregivers lived in
households with incomes under twice the federal poverty
level, compared with one-third of non-caregivers.
Caregivers More Likely to Have Health Conditions; Have
Trouble Paying for Care
Caregivers are more likely than non-caregivers to have
health problems of their own. Three-fifths of caregivers
reported that they were in fair or poor health, or had one
or more chronic conditions or a disability, compared with
one-third of non-caregivers. In fact, caregivers reported
chronic conditions at nearly twice the rate of
non-caregivers, 45 percent vs. 24 percent.
Lack of insurance coverage, low income, and the financial
burden of providing care can make it difficult for
caregivers to afford health care, according to the study
authors. Caregivers reported disproportionately high rates
of medical bill problems. Among the findings:
60
percent of caregivers reported medical bill problems or
medical debt compared with 39 percent of non-caregivers
34
percent of caregivers were uninsured for at least some
period during the year, compared with 26 percent of
non-caregivers
Half of caregivers reported that they had problems accessing
the health care system because of cost, compared with 35
percent of non-caregivers. Cost-related access problems
included not filling a prescription; failing to see a
specialist when a doctor thought it was needed; skipping a
recommended medical test, treatment or follow-up; or having
a medical problem but not visiting a doctor or clinic
"While caregivers provide a critical, vital function in
society, they pay a price in terms of their financial
security and overall well-being," said Sara Collins, senior
program officer at The Commonwealth Fund and co-author of
the study. "Modest policy proposals such as expanding
Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage to
caregivers, allowing Medicare buy-in for caregivers of
Medicare beneficiaries, or tax credits for caregivers'
medical expenses could ease their financial burden."