According to the source, citing data from a Gallup poll, people who gave up health services because of high costs rose 12 points annually, from 26 percent in 2021 to 38 percent last year.
The latest annual survey on the subject, conducted from November 9 to December 2, revealed the highest level of price-related delays on record, five points higher than the previous high of 33 percent (2019 and 2014), and marked while increasing the strongest year to date.
Likewise, the proportion of people who reported that they or a family member postponed treatment because of a serious illness also surpassed the previous all-time high of 25 percent (2019) in 2022 (27 percent).
At that point, reports of the decision to reschedule doctor’s appointments because of a serious illness rose 12 points among low-income American adults, 11 points among the middle group, and seven points among the wealthiest.
Low-income households, young adults and women are particularly prone to delaying medical care because of the high cost, the source added.
The Common Dreams article noted that according to a recent survey, only 12 percent of citizens think healthcare is working “extremely” or “very” well in the United States.
Such data, he said, provides evidence of the unpopularity of a system designed to maximize profits while 43 million people remain under-insured, millions are thrown out of their employer-based plans as Covid-19 sparked a spike in unemployment, and contributing to this was the decline in life expectancy in the country.
With the country’s current healthcare system forcing millions to skip treatments to avoid financial ruin and allowing the pharmaceutical and insurance industries to rake in massive profits, polls consistently show voters’ desire for the federal government to play a more active role in the provision of medical care, the text argued.
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