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Twenty-two percentage of respondents to a survey have reduced the number of times they visit their physician because of the current economic climate in the U.S., according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The poll of 686 consumers, released on Tuesday and conducted in July, likewise found that 11% of respondents aforementioned they had reduced the amount of prescription drugs they take or the dosage of those medications to make them last longer. The survey ground that 85% of respondents had non made whatever change to their health insurance policies, while 2% had canceled their insurance coverage entirely.
Over the yesteryear several days, U.S. residents have been paying more of their health caution costs, chiefly because employers are requiring employees to contribute a greater share of health insurance premiums and copayments, or they are ever-changing or reducing benefits, the Chronicle reports. Michael Potter, a family physician and head of the San Francisco chapter of the California Academy of Family Physicians, said, "There's a lot of evidence that the more patients are required to pay more for their care, the more that they get economic decisions about what to take or what not," adding, "While some of that may be perfectly reasonable and acceptable, what I worry about is people not acquiring care that is truly essential for their health."
Chris Ohman, CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, aforesaid, "We recognise from past economic downturns that employers and individuals tighten their budgets as a whole, but they certainly tighten their wellness budgets," adding that although health fear costs bear increased at rates oftentimes double or triple the rate of inflation for years, the squeeze feels more meaning as the economy worsens.
The survey did not examine inside information behind consumers' decisions, and it does not track any changes in consumer behavior because NAIC has not conducted similar surveys in the past (Colliver, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/13).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You nates view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for electronic mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.
