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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Financial Takes a Toll on the Physical - New York Times; this will add up to additional aggregate health care costs in the medium turn


The Financial Takes a Toll on the Physical

By PHYLLIS KORKKI
Published: May 2, 2009

It makes sense: Detect diseases early, and they often cost less and take less of a physical toll. But more people are delaying or canceling their health care visits, according to the Pulse health care survey, conducted annually by Thomson Reuters.

Cost was the biggest reason, according to the most recent survey. In 2006, by contrast, lack of time was the foremost reason cited.

A majority of the deferred services this year were for doctor visits. People were also putting appointments for imaging, non-elective procedures and lab/diagnostic tests on the back burner.

About 30 percent of the respondents this year said that the economy was making it harder for them to pay for health care. Among households making less than $25,000 a year, that figure jumped to about 45 percent.

All of these are signs that the recession is affecting not only people’s finances, but also their health.

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Personal Web site for John C Kim: KIDDOC.ORG

I am a pediatrician specializing in General Pediatrics, International Adoption Medicine, and in the diagnosis and coaching of families pursuing joy.