Americans disagree on a lot of things but one subject most people can see eye to eye on is the astronomical cost of healthcare. It has become so expensive that a shocking amount of Americans are willing to skip treatment because of the high cost.
Here’s Five Fast Facts About Americans Skipping Healthcare:
- 👩⚕️ Skip It - According to a new poll from Gallup, 38% of Americans said they or a family member skipped or delayed medical care in 2022 because of the cost. That includes evaluations, treatments, and procedures. I probably could have used this excuse to skip my prostate exam.
- 🚑 New High - That’s a 12% increase over 2021. The previous high was in 2014 and 2019, when 33% of Americans said they skipped or delayed medical care.
- 💊 Critical Care - It gets worse: 27% said they skipped treatments for very or somewhat serious illnesses and conditions. Only 11% said they skipped care for non-serious illnesses.
- ⚕️Income Bracket - The numbers also show the effect of income levels. It looks like 38% of families with an income of less than $25,000 went without some sort of care, while only 11% of adults making $100,000 or more took a pass.
- 💉Jagged Little Pill - Americans are skipping medication, too, with 21% saying they haven’t filled a prescription because of the cost. About one in 10 adults admit they’ve cut pills in half or skipped doses because of the cost.
🔥Bottom line: You’ve probably already made up your mind on how medical costs got here, but I’m guessing you didn’t know the numbers were this bleak until now. Hopefully we’ll eventually find a way to get treatment to affordable levels.
Have you skipped healthcare because of costs?
Let us know by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram! Also, remember to share this newsletter with your friends & coworkers!
Btw, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!
