Even many who didn't experience difficulties with health care costs say they're concerned they might, the foundation reports: "While substantial shares of Americans report problems paying for care, even larger shares report they are worried about being able to afford health care and maintain insurance coverage." Sixty-four percent of those surveyed were concerned about their health care costs rising, according to the survey, which the foundation conducted last month. The survey's overall margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Americans spent $2.6 trillion on health care in 2010, a tenfold increase since 1980, according to federal government figures. Higher prices for medical procedures, tests, drugs and other health care goods and services are increasingly burdensome on American households, contributing to higher health insurance premiums andfostering a population of uninsured people that's approaching 50 million. That money isn't buying Americans higher-quality care than is available in other rich countries, either.
An American family of four with job-based health insurance will spend more than $20,000 on premiums, deductibles, co-payments and other expenses this year, according to a recent analysis by Milliman, a firm that consults with companies about employee benefits.
No comments:
Post a Comment