ANY DELAYS IN TREATMENT MAY EXACERBATE SYMPTOMS AND MAKE TREATMENT MORE DIFFICULT , BOTH OF WHICH INCREASE THE COST OF TREATMENT .
INFOGRAPHIC
IBI FINDS 58 % OF US EMPLOYEES DELAYED NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE DUE TO COSTS
At the height of the pandemic , individuals were asked to delay preventive care and elective procedures to alleviate incidences of community transmission .
Many employers are now understandably concerned about the costs of delayed care and the impact this has had on those with chronic conditions that may have gone untreated over the past three years . In an effort to understand who is delaying care and why they have delayed care , IBI surveyed 5,003 employed individuals in the US .
IBI ’ s survey found that less than three-fourths of employees are up to date on preventive screenings and immunisations . Just over half ( 58 %) of employees delayed necessary medical care due to cost or insurance barriers , 42 % reported delays because there wasn ’ t an appointment available and 35 % delayed or avoided care due to fear of getting or spreading COVID-19 .
Among those who are not up to date on preventive screenings , individuals ’ top reasons were that it wasn ’ t necessary because ‘ I ’ m young and healthy ’ ( 17 %) and due to costs / can ’ t afford ( 14 %). The top reasons cited for not being up to date on immunisations were that they don ’ t like shots / don ’ t want them / don ’ t trust them ( 37 %) and that they aren ’ t necessary because ‘ I have a strong immune system ’ ( 15 %).
Surprisingly , regardless of sociodemographic , individuals with more chronic conditions were more likely to delay care .
Over three-fifths ( 69 %) of individuals with three or more chronic conditions delayed care due cost / insurance barriers , compared to 51 % with no chronic conditions . However , those with
ANY DELAYS IN TREATMENT MAY EXACERBATE SYMPTOMS AND MAKE TREATMENT MORE DIFFICULT , BOTH OF WHICH INCREASE THE COST OF TREATMENT .
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