One in five Americans reported forgoing or delaying medical care in 2007, up from one in seven in 2003, according to a new survey by the Center for Studying Health System Change. Cost was the most frequently cited obstacle to care.
More than 23 million people reported going without needed care, while roughly 36 million delayed seeking care, the survey found. Uninsured people were more than three times as likely to report going without care as insured people. However, unmet medical needs increased among insured people, which the authors said was likely due to rising out-of-pocket costs.
“This is the most up-to-date snapshot of the access problems Americans are facing when seeking medical care, and it’s not a pretty picture, especially for insured people, who increasingly are finding that the access to care once guaranteed by insurance is declining,” said coauthor Peter Cunningham.
[ via AHA News Now ]