38% of Americans had to put off medical treatment due to cost in 2022

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jan 2023 18:59

Some said that they had to postpone their treatment even at times they needed it most, the poll shows.

Emergency personnel load an ambulance in front of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Results of a poll published on Tuesday revealed that 38% of Americans had to delay their medical treatment in the past year due to the high cost.

The survey was conducted by the Gallup consulting firm between November 9-December 2 and included the participation of 1,020 adults in all US states and the District of Columbia.

"The percentage of Americans reporting they or a family member postponed medical treatment in 2022 due to cost rose 12 points in one year, to 38%, the highest in Gallup’s 22-year trend," the pollster said.

Some said that they had to postpone their treatment even at times they needed it most, the poll reveals.

"In all, 27% said the treatment was for a 'very' or 'somewhat' serious condition or illness, while 11% said it was 'not very' or 'not at all' serious," the poll added.

Several factors were found to influence the data results, including income, age, and gender.

Among the categories of individuals most likely to postpone medical care include women, younger people, and low-income adults.

"In 2022, 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 say someone in their family delayed medical care for a serious condition (34% vs. 18%, respectively). Those with an income between $40,000 and less than $100,000 were similar to those in the lowest income group when it comes to postponing care, with 29% doing so," the pollster said.

A third of all participants aged between 18 to 49 said they or someone related to them had to postpone medical treatment, and one out of four participants aged between 50 to 64 and 13% of participants older than 64 said the same.

The poll cited inflation as the main reason for this difficult choice.