Unpaid medical debt has long been the second most prevalent reason for bankruptcy in the United States. Healthcare is avoided for financial reasons as inflation and global economic turmoil have an outsized impact on those least able to keep up with rising expenses.
That is supported by recent statistics from the CareCredit-sponsored study The ConnectedEconomyTM: Omnichannel Healthcare Takes Center Stage, which surveyed over 2,700 U.S. customers on healthcare access and affordability.
While telehealth advances are assisting in prioritizing expensive in-person appointments with what may be detected and treated via a video doctor visit, it’s only the beginning. More Americans are disregarding their health because it is expensive, according to the survey, as consumer purchasing power is severely restricted.
As might be predicted, people with lower incomes have a harder time paying their rent, healthcare expenses, and other critical household expenses like food, petrol, and electricity.
The survey found that “Consumers who earn less than $50,000 in yearly income engaged in 8% less any form of healthcare channel last month than they did in November 2021,” which is shown in the statistics.
However, since November 2021, the proportion of low-income people interacting with healthcare experts online has climbed by 6%. This indicates that low-income customers are becoming increasingly dependent on digital healthcare solutions, and this tendency doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
