It’s no secret that, even for those with health insurance, sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the average American to afford their healthcare, but a recent poll highlighted the depressing reality some face.
A survey conducted by HealthCareInsider.com revealed that 17% of those who responded said they’ve had to choose paying for healthcare over paying for food in the past, while 9% said they skipped a rent or mortgage payment.
In addition, more than 40% have less than $500 total on hand that can be used for an emergency medical expense.
When asked how they might cover the cost of treatment for a sudden severe illness, 31% said they didn’t know, making it the most-chosen answer for that question.
It’s no surprise then that 44% of people said they “avoided seeking medical services in the past year,” and 46% have existing medical debt.
And half of those polled ranked a medical expense as their top expense – 33% citing “health insurance” and 17% saying “medical bills.”
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