Survey Finds 22Pct Of Americans With Insurance Can't Afford Full Medical Care

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - It isn't just the 47 million Americans that lack health insurance who aren't able to afford to see a doctor anymore, a new survey finds that nearly a quarter of Americans have reduced the number of times they see their doctor to save money.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners researchers found that 22 percent of respondents were cutting back on visiting the doctor to cut costs, often putting their health at risk as a result.

The Insurance Commissioner's survey was done in July by surveying 686 consumers.

Approximately 11 percent of respondents also said they had cut back either the number of prescription medications they were taking, or cut the dosages to make the prescription last longer to save money.

This survey follows two recent studies that also revealed the increasing problems Americans are facing in trying to take care of their health in tough economic times. One study was on uninsured Americans, while the second was on those with insurance.

A study published in this month's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine found that one out of three people of working age are uninsured and suffering from a chronic Illness, for which they aren't getting the medical care that is required.

An earlier study, with a larger sample than the Insurance Commissioners survey, had found that 25 percent of Americans with insurance couldn't afford to use it.