Share this @internewscast.com

Out of pocket premiums go up as health insurance open enrollment begins


Out of pocket premiums go up as health insurance open enrollment begins

02:30

Paying for health care is a struggle even for many Americans with health insurance, who say they are having trouble affording rising premiums, copayments and related costs. 

More than half — 51% — of working-age Americans say they struggle to afford their health care, according a Commonwealth Fund survey released Thursday. About 4 in 10 workers with employer-sponsored plans or who are on Medicaid say they have difficulty paying, while that rises to about 6 in 10 people who buy coverage through the ACA marketplaces, the study found.

 Meanwhile, about 3 in 4 people without insurance say they have problems with paying for their care. 

Because costs are so high, almost two in five — 38% — of Americans reported delaying or skipping necessary treatment or medication. Health care costs are also straining household budgets, with roughly 30% of working-age adults with health insurance saying these expenses make it difficult to afford essentials like food and utilities. 

“This survey reveals that millions of Americans, regardless of their insurance status, cannot afford to be healthy,” health care scholar and lead study author Sara Collins said in a statement. “High health care costs are forcing them to delay needed treatments. As a result, they get sicker and may take on significant medical debt.”

She emphasized the importance of creating policies that expand coverage and reign in health care costs so that Americans can afford to stay healthy. 

Commonwealth Fund President Joseph Betancourt, M.D., suggested that high health care costs are correlated to Americans having one of the highest rates of chronic disease in the world. 

“This is unsustainable for our health care system, and our nation — we need major reforms to ensure people can get the care they need, when they need it most,” he said in a statement.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Discover Simple Strategies from Health Experts to Help Prevent or Delay Diabetes

Diabetes UK is raising the alarm about the prevalence of undiagnosed type…

NHS Issues Important Advisory on Citalopram’s Six-Week Rule – What You Need to Know

People have been warned to visit their GP before they stop (Image:…

Thousands Unaware of NHS Scheme Offering Over £100 in Savings: Are You Missing Out?

In the midst of a relentless cost of living crisis, individuals are…

UKHSA Issues Alert Following Return of Holidaymakers with Serious Infection

Holidaymakers have been warned (Image: Bakul Diwani / 500px via Getty Images)…

Daily Exposure Risk: 150 Million Americans Face Potential Link to Lou Gehrig’s Disease—Check Your Area on Our Map

Recent findings from a Swedish study suggest that exposure to toxic pollutants…

Wood Burners Under Fire: New Study Reveals Shocking Link to 8,600 Premature Deaths Annually

In a move to combat air pollution, the UK Government plans to…

Prostate Cancer Takes the Lead in the UK: Essential Symptoms You Must Recognize

Prostate cancer has now become the most common form of cancer in…

Study Reveals Norwich as the UK’s Most Affected City by Depression, with Stoke-on-Trent and Swansea Following Closely

Norwich, long recognized as the fictional home of Alan Partridge, now holds…