According to the Kaiser and New York Times survey, almost 25% of
U.S. patients have trouble paying a medical bill. The same survey
states that 32% of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 have
postponed getting needed care due to the cost and 40% said they
have relied on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs. This is
the result of many patients finding themselves with high deductible
insurance plans leaving them responsible for a larger percentage of
the cost of care. In addition, the copay associated with the plans
can be higher than the patient can afford.
The financial stress of patients has only been exacerbated by
the COVID-19 pandemic, with 22 million people reporting being
unemployed in the first four weeks after a national emergency was
declared.
