HiFi-Health-News: Healthcare Costs Rising? Survey Reveals Financial Strain on Consumers

Americans are concerned about having enough money to live and at the same time having enough money to properly maintain their health, particularly mental health, a new survey has found. The Employee Benefit Research Institute recently released the results from its Consumer Engagement in Healthcare survey, and perhaps unsurprisingly, people are worried. Four in 10 enrollees in this survey said that their healthcare costs increased in the past year, and among that group, many reported taking steps that indicate financial strain, said Nick Hut, senior editor for the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Healthcare costs are increasing for many households, with 55% reducing their discretionary spending and cost was the leading reason why consumers delayed or avoided care, Hut said. Mental and behavioral health was cited both as a top source of stress and a top type of care that people are avoiding because of cost. Behavioral health issues have been a significant concern in healthcare overall, especially since the pandemic. In this survey, among respondents who needed a specific type of healthcare, 37% said they put off seeking mental healthcare. That's the highest total in the survey among the half dozen or so services that they asked about.