38% of US citizens put off care to avoid cost

Nearly four in 10 people in the United States put off healthcare in 2022 because of the cost, the highest number since Gallup began asking people about delaying care more than 20 years ago.

The percentage that reported that they or a family member had delayed care due to the expense was 38 percent, up from 26 percent in 2021, according to the survey.

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

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

The latest reading, from Gallup's annual health and healthcare poll, conducted 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-on-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.

US citizens 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 30 percent of those with an income between $40,000 and $100,000 reported delaying care for a serious condition.

Thirty-five percent of adults age 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.

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 US citizens said they were experiencing financial hardship due to price increases.

'We have no choice'

Mona, 45, and her 14-year-old son, live in a studio apartment in New York City. 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 receive.

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

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 alternative until I can earn more."

Craig, 55, and his wife, 49, live in the same city. They are both unemployed after losing their jobs with a major technology company last year, along with their 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."

A survey by the Commonwealth Fund showed that 43 percent of working-age adults in the US were inadequately insured in 2022, and some insured also chose to skip care.

A New York Times reader self-identified as M. Lee from Kansas City said he was 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."

"We are starting to see some individuals who are putting off some care, especially preventive care, due to the costs," doctor Tochi Iroku-Malize, 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.