Gallup poll: 4 in 10 Americans delayed healthcare due to cost

The year 2022 has proved to be very challenging financially for many Americans: nearly 4 in 10 said they had to put off healthcare in 2022 because of the cost, the highest number since Gallup started asking people about delaying care more than 20 years ago.

The percentage reporting that they or a family member delayed healthcare because of costs rose to 38 percent from 26 percent in 2021, the Gallup poll revealed.

In all, 27 percent said they delayed treatment for a very or somewhat serious condition or illness, up from 18 percent in 2021.

Gallup started tracking Americans' self-reports of delaying medical care due to cost since 2001. Between 2001 and 2021, the Gallup polls showed that an average 29 percent of American adults reported putting off medical treatment for financial reasons.

The latest reading, from Gallup's annual Health and Healthcare poll conducted from Nov 9 to Dec 2, was the highest, by five points, over the previous high of 33 percent recorded in 2014 and 2019. It marked the sharpest year-over-year increase to date.

Lower-income adults, younger adults and women are more likely to say that they or a family member have delayed care for a serious medical condition, the poll found.

Americans with an annual household income under $40,000 were nearly twice as likely as those with an income of $100,000 or more to delay care for a serious condition — 34 percent versus 18 percent. About 29 percent of those with an income between $40,000 and $100,000 reported delaying care for a serious condition.

Thirty-five percent of adults 18 to 49 said they or someone in their family put off care, while 25 percent of those age 50 to 64, and 13 percent of those age 65 and older said the same.

When it comes to gender, 32 percent of women and 20 percent of men reported putting off medical treatment. The 12-point gap was well above the seven-point average since 2001.

Rising inflation was also a factor that many people said left them with less money for healthcare. A Gallup poll last year showed that 56 percent of Americans said that they were experiencing financial hardship due to price increases.

Mona, 45, and her 14-year-old son, live in a studio apartment in Manhattan. She lost her full-time job as a computer technician three years ago and has been doing freelance work since, earning about $40,000 annually instead of the $100,000 she used to earn.

Neither she nor her son have health insurance, and she said she hasn't seen a doctor since losing her job, though she said hasn't suffered any serious health problems.

Mona, who asked that her last name not be used, told China Daily that most of her money goes for rent and food — not healthcare.

"If my son has a serious health problem, I will take him to a doctor or the hospital emergency room,'' she said . "There's no alterative until I can earn more.''

Craig, 55, and his wife, 49, live in Brooklyn. They are both unemployed after losing their jobs with a major tech company last year, along with their company paid health insurance. Whatever savings they were able to build up are just about gone, said Craig, who asked that his last name not be used. He has a heart condition that requires a monthly prescription of $200. "Nothing else for healthcare," he said.

"We do all we can to stay healthy; we can't afford to see a doctor; we have no choice.''

Even as the number and percentage of Americans lacking health insurance is falling to historic lows, a survey by the Commonwealth Fund showed that 43 percent of working-age adults were inadequately insured in 2022, and some insured also have skipped care.

A New York Times reader self-identified as M. Lee from Kansas City said he's making $30,000 a year, and his insurance through work has a $3,000 deductible. "Making 30k a year makes it hard to meet that," Lee said. "I just couldn't come up with the $100-200 my doctor's office charges."

Another Times reader named Henry said that he stopped going to the doctor years ago due to costs. He said that "high deductible, narrow network plans with tiered co-pays and constant claim rejections do not make for good medical care".

"We are starting to see some individuals who are putting off some care, especially preventive care, due to the costs," Dr Tochi Iroku-Malize, the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the chair of family medicine for Northwell Health in New York, told the Times.

Ai Heping in New York contributed to this story.