Oct 21, 2008 7:30 pm US/Eastern
Ailing Economy May Be Harmful To Your Health
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
A survey today finds the ailing economy is forcing more than 80 million Americans - even insured people - to cut back on healthcare. (File)
CBS
Gabrielle Revere looks like the picture of health.
But she's taking a chance - skipping visits to the doctor even when she had strep throat, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.
"Is it worth the $300 to go into the doctor's office, to tell me I have strep, and then get a prescription filled that my health insurance doesn't cover for another $50?" Revere asks.
A survey today finds the ailing economy is forcing more than 80 million Americans - even insured people like Revere - to cut back on healthcare.
Thirty-six percent of Americans are delaying care - a big jump from six months ago. About 30 per cent skip a test or treatment; 27 percent don't fill a prescription.
An informal survey taken by LaPook showed that many patients have missed appointments, screenings and medications.
Another survey shows it's young adults who have been hit the hardest: nearly 70 percent say the downturn has made it more difficult in the last year to pay for medical expenses.
"I haven't had a physical or any kind of checkup in a long time," says Scott Crumpler.
Health care economists warn that skimping on even minor illness can have serious consequences.
"When people cut back on preventive care on the monitoring and care of chronic illnesses, they are really cutting back on their own lives, on the health and quality of their lives in the long run," said Dr. Sherry Glied of Columbia University.
But it's hard to think about the long run - even though Gabrielle Revere knows she is gambling with her health.
"If I'm sick, I'm pretty much up a creek!" says Revere.
Even though young adults report cutting back the most, this is obviously a problem for all ages.
Additional information from the CBS News Medical Unit:
Often, people who are uninsured are eligible for more help than they may think.
Even if they are not eligible for Medicaid, they may have access to other state-subsidized insurance, for example, in New York: Family Health Plus or Healthy NY.
The case workers at your state's Medicaid office might be able to help you evaluate options. Find information here.
Also, you can check out some Web sites designed to help the uninsured, including Cover The Uninsured, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Access 2 Wellness, a Johnson and Johnson site and the New York online directory.
A couple activist groups that could be worth checking out are Voice For The Uninsured and Cover The Uninsured.
To learn more about health care in the United States, see Kaiser Network or the National Coalition on Health Care.
And the U.S. Department of Health And Human Services has a resource page.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments