Many people in the world were forced to give up some “luxuries” in their lives, due to the high prices and the repercussions of the Corona epidemic and the Ukraine war, but some people make more painful concessions, such as postponing much-needed treatments.
According to the American newspaper “The New York Times”, an increasing number of Americans are forced to postpone important appointments and treatments, because they cannot pay at the present time, due to lack of money, or because health is no longer a priority for them in the face of the difficulties of life.
And a poll conducted by the prestigious “Gallup” organization revealed that 4 out of 10 Americans confirmed that in 2022 they had to postpone treatment steps, due to the financial situation.
This percentage is the highest ever, while Gallup conducts this poll in the United States for more than twenty years.
And one out of every four respondents said that he had to postpone treatment for a disease that falls within the “serious diseases”, and this means that the delay does not concern only the regular routine examinations.
The data showed that 38 percent of the individuals confirmed that they, or a member of their family, had postponed a medical appointment, due to the cost dilemma, while this percentage was around 26 percent in 2021.
Health experts in the United States expect families to face more expensive drug prices and hospitalization, while delays threaten to exacerbate health disorders.
In the same vein, figures issued by the Commonwealth Fund revealed; It is a non-governmental organization in the United States, that 29 percent of those who rely on employment insurance complain that they do not benefit from sufficient coverage for the medical services they need.
Many in the United States have to pay extra medical expenses, even when they have health insurance through work.
