For Many, Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs a Strain
More than one-fifth of US adults with health insurance spent at least 5% of their income in the past year on out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, not including premiums, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.
Meanwhile, 13% spent ≥10% on out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
“Too High a Price: Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs in the United States” is the first in a series of reports planned by The Commonwealth Fund to gauge whether or not health plans are protecting Americans from high healthcare expenses. For many, the answer is no.
After surveying 2751 adults in September and October, The Commonwealth Fund found:
- Low-income adults are the most likely group to encounter high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Specifically, 41% of adults earning <$11,490 annually (compared with 21% of adults overall) spent at least 5% out-of-pocket; 31% of low-income earners spent at least 10% out-of-pocket.
- Some 43% of adults said it was “somewhat,” “very difficult,” or “impossible” to afford their deductibles.
- Of adults with private insurance, 40% who had deductibles of ≥5% of their income reported skipping needed healthcare because of the deductible: 29% went without a medical test or follow-up treatment, 27% did not seek care for a medical problem, and 23% skipped a preventive care test.
"In order for health insurance to work for families, and for the US healthcare system to work well, it will be important to bring down the number of people who are underinsured—people who have coverage that does not provide adequate financial protection,” said David Blumenthal, MD, president, The Commonwealth Fund.
“Research shows that people who have insurance but have high healthcare costs relative to their income are as likely to skip getting the care they need as those with no insurance at all," said Dr. Blumenthal.—Jolynn Tumolo
References
