Costs lead even insured in Mich. to delay health care - Half of those polled put off seeking help

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit Free Press

Costs lead even insured in Mich. to delay health care
Half of those polled put off seeking help
BY PATRICIA ANSTETT • FREE PRESS MEDICAL WRITER • JUNE 24, 2009


More than half of Michiganders, even those with insurance, said they postpone health care because they can’t afford it, an AFL-CIO survey has found.

The survey of 23,460 people, including 1,000 in Michigan, showed that even working insured Americans can’t afford health care because their copays and other out-of-pocket expenses are too high.

“The eye-opening results confirmed that many working Americans are not getting the care they need whether they have insurance or not,” said Michigan AFL-CIO president Mark Gaffney, in a telephone news conference today.

Other findings among the Michiganders responding to the survey:

• 29% reported that someone in their household lost health coverage this year due to losing or changing jobs.

• 66% spent more than $1,000 of their own money for health care in the past year, and 17% spending more that $5,000.

• 77% of Michigan respondents reported being either “somewhat” or “very worried” about them or someone in their household losing health care coverage in the next year.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20090624/BUSINESS06/90624050/Costs+lead+even+insured+in+Mich.+to+delay+health+care+

[kestrel91316]

1. But, but, I heard on KFI this morning that 85% of Americans are PERFECTLY HAPPY

with their healthcare situation........

[pattmarty]

2. I know you're being sarcastic, but your 85% is a perfect example..............

...........of how ANYONE can twist and misrepresent figures & polls. I believe the 85% figure was of people that HAVE health insurance, if they are happy with their plans. Medicare for all!!!

[depakid]

6. What it shows is that polling in America isn't meant to reflect public opinion

but rather to influence it.

[pattmarty]

8. You said it better than I did, with fewer words.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. OK, yet more evidence of healthcare trouble, but notice that...

it is the cost of diagnosis and treatment that is the problem.

Unless these costs are reduced, how is simply getting someone else to pay for them going to solve the problem?

(Not many seem to be listening to Obama when he says the underlying costs have to be addressed before anything significant can be done.)

[Vidar]

4. Oddly enough, I don't go to the doctor when I can't afford my deductible.

[JohnWxy]

5. This is why we need a public option. It's extremely expensive EVEN IF YOU ARE INSURED

But call and email your Senators and Representative - Obama is getting pretty vague about this. One time he says a "public plan" which is provided by the Government and includes no profits. Another times he says " a market place of plans" from which people can choose. --- this is NOT a Pulbic plan provided by the government without any profits in it.

I think if people do not call and email the lobbyists will win this and we will not get public plan run by the goernment which eliminates profits from the costs.

[Mari333]

7. Im in MI and I put it off

I can only get catastrophic care, and thats with a 10,000 deductible. there is nothing else. doesnt cover meds, doctors visits, procedures, etc. Just cross my fingers and hope I dont get sick. pay a lot every month just for that and I have to cut back on other things. they keep raising the rate .