![]() Overall inflation-specifically medical CPI -has continued to put health care out of reach for ever-increasing numbers of Americans year after year. "Traditional health care is inadequately structured to support the health of our population. Terry Layman, corporate medical director at Indianapolis-based Marathon Health, a health clinic provider that works with employers, said about the findings. "It's unfortunate but not surprising," Dr. That figure is now 38 percent, the highest it has been in the 22 years that Gallup has been following that trend. The data from IBI is not an outlier: Gallup research from earlier this year found that the percentage of Americans who said they or a family member postponed medical treatment in 2022 due to the cost rose 12 percentage points since the year prior. "If chronic conditions go untreated, employers will eventually see higher rates of disability and leave claims among their employee population," McDevitt said. However, those with chronic conditions are also more likely to be up-to-date on preventive care. Sixty-nine percent of individuals with three or more chronic conditions delayed care due to cost and insurance barriers, compared to 51 percent of those with no chronic conditions who did so. "Part of that equation for employers includes addressing affordability, equity and access."Įven more concerning, the research noted, individuals with chronic conditions were more likely to delay care. ![]() ![]() "To address the issue of high costs down the road, employers must act now to ensure their employees are receiving the care they need," she said. A healthy employee is a productive one," she said, noting that delays in care also have significant impacts on employers in the form of lower productivity and potential increased health care costs. "Delaying care has significant health impacts for employees, which in turn affects their presenteeism and productivity. IBI President Kelly McDevitt said the findings indicate a major problem and are a call to action for organizations. For the data, IBI surveyed 5,003 employed individuals in the U.S. The top reasons cited for not being current on immunizations were that they don't like shots, don't want them, or don't trust them (37 percent) and that immunizations aren't necessary because respondents claim they "have a strong immune system" (15 percent). Among those who are not up-to-date on preventive screenings, employees' top reasons were that it wasn't necessary because they said they are "young and healthy" (17 percent) and that it cost too much or they could not afford it (14 percent). The group's research also found that fewer than three-fourths of employees are up-to-date on preventive screenings and immunizations. Meanwhile, 42 percent of workers reported delays because there wasn't an appointment available, and 35 percent delayed or avoided care due to fear of getting or spreading COVID-19. More than half of employees (58 percent) delayed necessary medical care due to cost or insurance barriers, according to new analysis out from the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), an Oakland, Calif.-based nonprofit research organization. ![]() ![]() Scores of employees are skipping or delaying both necessary and preventive medical care-which spells a major problem for employers. ![]()
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