HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED STATES
ACCESS ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE
respect lead to trust and open communication. Trust and open communication lead to increased health-seeking behaviors and eventually lower healthcare costs due to decreased emergency room and outpatient clinic visits (ODPHP, 2019a). Improved health-seeking behaviors also lead to a decrease in chronic illness and mortality (ODPHP, 2019a).
8.5 BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE
In addition to lack of health insurance, lack of accessible and appropriate healthcare services, and inability to find the “right” healthcare provider, there are other barriers to healthcare in the U.S. Inadequate health insurance, not having a “usual” place of obtaining healthcare, the high costs of healthcare, not obtaining an appointment in a timely manner, having a language barrier, low health literacy, and health disparities for certain parts of the population are all barriers to receiving adequate healthcare and are discussed next. Factors that may influence these barriers are also discussed.
8.5.1 High Cost of Healthcare
As technology continues to evolve and improve, quicker and more reliable diagnostic tests are available, as well as more efficient medications with fewer side effects, all of which increases the costs of healthcare. Governmental health plans and many insurance plans are slow to approve and pay for new technology, including diagnostic tests, medications, and equipment. Physicians, however, order the most up-to-date diagnostic tests, medications, and equipment which they feel will help patients or improve their health. Often, patients need to take several medications to combat their disease processes. For example, it is not uncommon for persons with high blood pressure to be on three different medications to maintain a normal blood pressure. Kirzinger et al. (2019) found that individuals who have the most difficulty affording their prescription medications are taking four or more prescription medications; spending $100 or more per month on medications; are in the 50–64 year old age range; describe themselves in either fair or poor health; and have an income less than $40,000 annually. Obviously, having to pay exorbitant costs for medications may prevent individuals from receiving the healthcare they need. These findings may indicate that individuals who are aging— but not old enough for Medicare—and who are possibly in the lower income levels may be developing chronic illnesses in their younger years of age.
Examining similar information as the Kirzinger report, the federal government’s latest data concerning delay or nonreceipt of healthcare are found in the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (NCHS, 2019, Trend Table 29) where 320,182 individuals (adults or an adult speaking for a child in the home) were interviewed concerning delay or nonreceipt of needed medical care due to cost, nonreceipt of needed prescription drugs due to cost, and nonreceipt of needed dental care due to cost. Results from the 2017 survey were compared to results
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