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Growing
number of U.S. residents delay Medical Care
as economy worsens
[Oct 16, 2008] The
Washington Post on
Thursday examined how "the global economic
crunch is forcing a growing number of
Americans to scale back on medical care."
The number of people who have gone without a
prescription, used retirement savings to pay
for health services or skipped a doctor's
appointment for themselves or a child has
increased since last year, according to a
study released this summer by the
Rockefeller Foundation and
Time
Magazine.
The study found that 25% of 2,000
respondents said in 2008 they skipped a
doctor's visit because of cost, up from 18%
in 2007, and 10% said they decided to forgo
a visit to the doctor for their child for
the same reason.
In addition,
IMS Health this summer recorded the
first decline in U.S. prescription drug
spending after double-digit increases for
almost a decade. Another survey by the
Center for Studying Health System Change
found that almost 20% of U.S. residents say
they have trouble paying medical bills.
According to the
Post,
"Layoffs, shrinking bank accounts, rising
medical prices and widespread anxiety that
the economy is likely to worsen" are leading
people to "split pills, forgo screening
tests, ... delay elective procedures ... and
turn to home remedies as cheaper
alternatives."
While the "burden is especially heavy for
uninsured Americans, even those who have
coverage are feeling the pinch" as employers
raise deductibles and copayments for
workers, the
Post
reports.
Jean Mitchell, professor of public policy at
Georgetown University, said, "The reason
why health care was immune (to recessions)
in the past was because most people were
covered under good insurance plans," adding,
"people are realizing, 'Oh my gosh, I have
to pay for this out-of-pocket.'"
Hospitals say more medical bills are going
unpaid, while pharmacists report an increase
in demand for low-cost generic drugs and
overall demand for low-cost care is rising.
Many physicians have raised concerns that
actions taken to save money in the short
term could result in more severe -- and
costly -- long-term health problems
(Connolly/Marr,
Washington Post, 10/16).
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