Americans putting off healthcare due to money worries

12.18.08
By Lewis Green

President-elect Barack Obama has made it clear that healthcare reform is near the top of his agenda for his first couple of years in office, but that may be no consolation to those who are already struggling to pay for care.

A new survey by Decision Analyst reveals that many Americans are delaying health-related activities because of the economy.

For example, 42 percent of men and 37 percent of women admitted postponing a doctor's or dentist's appointment, while 12 percent of all respondents said they have stopped buying prescription drugs on a regular basis.

These short-term decisions can have a serious effect on a person's long-term health, warned Decision Analyst's Diane Brewton.

"Should these trends continue, consumers' long-term health will be impacted negatively by both increased stress levels and delayed medical treatment," she said.

One way to save money on prescriptions is by opting for generic versions of expensive medications. And remember that preventative care is almost always cheaper in the long run than dealing with a serious problem down the road.

But what if you don't have any health insurance at all but need medical treatment?

Consumer advocate Gerri Detweiler recently recommended to the Dallas Morning News that uninsured patients ask the hospital for a paper copy of their financial assistance guidelines.

Some healthcare facilities also offer a sliding scale for payments, which is based on income and family size, according to the publication. It may also be possible to lower the cost of a procedure by negotiating with the hospital's billing office.

It can be a good idea to maintain an emergency fund or reserve a credit card to deal specifically with unexpected healthcare costs that may arise.

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Healthcare may be put on the backburner in a financial crisis