53% of U.S. Residents Say Family Cut Back on Health Care in Past Year Because of Costs, Poll Finds

Fifty-three percent of U.S. residents said that they or a family member have cut back on medical care in the past year because of cost concerns, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll released Thursday, the AP/Kansas City Star reports. The study found that the most common ways of cutting back on care to avoid costs were relying on over-the-counter drugs or home remedies instead of seeing a doctor (35%) or skipping a dentist visit (34%). In addition, 27% said their household put off needed medical care. Of that group, 19% percent skipped a doctor's visit for a temporary illness and 19% skipped preventive care. Twenty-one percent chose not to fill a prescription and 15% cut pills in half or skipped doses, according to the poll. Sixteen percent chose not to deal with a major medical problem by forgoing a doctor's visit for a chronic illness or postponing surgery, the poll found (Mokrzycki, AP/Kansas City Star, 2/26).

"Experts and policymakers have multiple agendas in health reform, but when half the public reports skimping on care because they can't afford it, it's very clear that what the public wants most from health reform is relief from health care costs," said Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 2/25).

The poll also found support for President Obama's proposed health care overhaul despite the economic recession. Sixty-two percent said that "it's more important than ever to take on health care reform now," while 34% said that the nation cannot afford health reform at this time. The poll found 59% believe that the U.S. would be better off if Congress and the president overhauled the health care system, while 38% said that their own family would be better off and 43% said that it would make no difference for their family (AP/Kansas City Star, 2/26). Democrats (79%) believe health reform is more important than ever and 57% of independents believe so. On the other hand, 58% of Republicans say the nation cannot afford to tackle health care reform at this point (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 2/25).

The poll questioned 1,204 adults by landline and cell phone between Feb. 3 and Feb. 12. The sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points (AP/Kansas City Star, 2/26).

The poll is available online.