KFF researcher says health premiums are accelerating again
A local survey of 1,000 viewers found nearly half are skipping care to save money, while a policy expert warns costs are outpacing inflation.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Donna Russell paid $1,207 for a single day of medical care in October.
The full-time worker faced a $290 charge for a doctor’s visit and a $917 bill for an MRI. Russell said the provider was out of her network, so she remains responsible for those costs despite having employer-sponsored insurance. She called the specialist hard to find elsewhere.
Russell is not alone in making these choices. In September, a local media outlet surveyed more than 1,000 viewers about household affordability. The survey was non-scientific. Forty-four percent of respondents said they delayed or skipped medical or dental care because of high prices. Another 18 percent reported skipping prescription drugs in the past year due to cost.
Cynthia Cox, who oversees healthcare cost research at the nonpartisan nonprofit KFF, said general healthcare costs in the United States have risen faster than inflation for years. She noted that after a period of slower growth, premiums are increasing again. Cox predicted these rates will climb even faster over the next two years.
Cox said patients often make painful compromises to manage their budgets. Some people cut prescription pills in half or skip doses. Others choose cheaper treatment options instead of the recommended care. These actions mean some patients do not receive the specific care they need. Cox argued that policymakers must look beyond insurance to lower the underlying cost of care and prescription drugs.
Russell said she has cut back on travel, dining out, and future savings. She sets aside pretax money through a flexible spending account. At the time of the MRI, she said the provider offered a payment plan. However, she said her bank account held about $42 in mid-October, just before her paycheck arrived on the first of the month. She said the family now stays home to avoid extra expenses.
Russell described the financial trade-off plainly. She asked if a person wants to keep the things that keep them alive. She said families must give up somewhere else to pay for that care. She previously spent three years without a dental visit because repairs cost several hundred dollars while extractions cost $65. She chose to have a tooth pulled to save money.
