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Americans spend more on health care than any other nation. Yet almost half can't afford care.
CBS News ^ | July 17, 2024 | Aimee Picchi

Posted on 07/20/2024 10:56:56 PM PDT by grundle

Americans spend more money on health care on a per capita basis than people in any other developed nation, yet almost half say they've struggled recently to pay for medical treatment or prescription drugs, according to a new study from Gallup and West Health.

About 45% of those polled by the organizations said they'd recently had to skip treatment or medicine either because of cost or lack of easy access. Of those, about 8% said they also wouldn't have access to affordable care if they required it today, a group that Gallup and West Health termed "cost desperate."

While 55% of Americans are "cost secure," meaning they can afford care and medicine, that's a decline from 61% who fell into that category in 2022, the study found.

More people are struggling with health care costs partly due to higher inflation as well as a long-term trend toward insurance plans with higher deductibles and less comprehensive coverage, Tim Lash, president of West Health, a nonprofit group focused promoting affordable medical care, told CBS MoneyWatch. About 94% of those surveyed believe they or Americans in general are paying too much for health care and not getting their money's worth.

"We see individuals and families making decisions that no one should have to make, from, 'Should I go on vacation or do I pay for health care and medication,' or at the worst, 'How do I ration my food to afford my prescriptions?'" Lash said. "As the wealthiest and most developed country, that's not where we should be."

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bidenomics; healthcare
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To: kosciusko51

Don’t forget the cost of malpractice insurance...
**********
And this cost is so high because the legal sysyem is biased against doctors. Sure, there’s medical malpractice; but plaintiffs’ lawyers are good at working-up hate against doctors and their insurers, which results in damages that far exceed economic losses.


41 posted on 07/21/2024 7:15:13 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
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To: grundle

, ‘Should I go on vacation or do I pay for health care and medication,’


Life has choices. I know what the decision was when I grew up.


42 posted on 07/21/2024 7:21:05 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Socon-Econ

When they get it for free, they tend to abuse it. Witness all the Medicaid folks who use the ER on a regular basis, for things that are by no stretch of the imagination an “emergency”.


43 posted on 07/21/2024 7:26:53 AM PDT by brianl703
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To: Ikeon

I pay $100 cash to see a dr in my area. No insurance. All of my prescriptions are under $20 no insurance.

People are being robbed blind by health insurance.

I pay $177/mo for accident insurance for my husband and self that is similar to a savings plan. Pays out set amounts for injuries directly to me not providers.

The company invests the premiums and keeps the interest and the principle is paid to my beneficiary upon death.


44 posted on 07/21/2024 7:58:18 AM PDT by Valpal1 (Not even the police are safe from the police!!!)
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To: Socon-Econ

Agreed 100%


45 posted on 07/21/2024 9:19:05 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: grundle

When the price of a service has no connection to what it really costs the manipulation of fees is far too easy.


46 posted on 07/21/2024 9:21:27 AM PDT by lastchance (Cognovit Dominus qui sunt eius.)
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To: Ikeon

That is not all going to be gross profit. However convincing people that insurance is necessary for every health care need sure jacked the cost up. Health insurance for basic office visit and care was once optional. But now for most people has become necessary. I blame insurance companies.

There is also the issue of every aspect of medical care being specialized. Things that were done by your doctor are now done by other providers. Such as
Lab work
Setting bones and applying a cast for simple fractures
Stiches
Xrays
Eye exam/ Hearing tests.
Are just a few things that a GP would do in the office. I know because my mom worked for doctors when I was younger and this was all part of the doctor’s routine.


47 posted on 07/21/2024 9:28:54 AM PDT by lastchance (Cognovit Dominus qui sunt eius.)
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To: Socon-Econ; kosciusko51
The cost of insurance has escalated dramatically over the years for three main reasons:

1. Medical insurance plans are required to cover more and more things -- many of which shouldn't even be considered necessary medical care at all.

2. Insurance plans are required to cover pre-existing conditions.

3. Insurance plans cannot have annual or lifetime caps on coverage.

THE END.

48 posted on 07/21/2024 10:21:07 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Ain't it funny how the night moves … when you just don't seem to have as much to lose.”)
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To: Alberta's Child

But what about the real cost of the medical treatments that are paid by insurance? Are these costs not increasing as well? And wouldn’t those costs increase the price of insurance.


49 posted on 07/21/2024 10:25:34 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: kosciusko51

Yes, the cost of many treatments would naturally increase over time due to inflation. But the increases wouldn’t be as dramatic as the spiraling costs of insurance premiums.


50 posted on 07/21/2024 10:32:51 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Ain't it funny how the night moves … when you just don't seem to have as much to lose.”)
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To: grundle

The illegals I see in my hospitals ER every night and day get the best.

Yes sir. They don’t have to worry about a thing.

Dressed to the nines, carrying the best SmartPhones, five kids in tow and one in the oven.

Yes sir, Uncle Sucker pays off.


51 posted on 07/21/2024 1:48:40 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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