Survey: One in seven Americans will not go to the hospital for COVID-19 treatment due to the high cost of medical services

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged people to call doctors if they develop probable symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever and dry cough, which is a vital step in testing people and tracking the spread of the virus before quarantine is lifted. Writes about this Market Watch.

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But a new West Health and Gallup poll shows that one in seven Americans will not seek medical attention if they have symptoms because they are afraid of the financial cost of treating the disease.

Researchers interviewed more than 1000 adults in the United States from April 1 to April 14, 2020 as part of a study to find out the public opinion about the cost of medical care.

And 14% of respondents said they would not seek medical help if they or a family member had cough and fever due to concerns about the cost of medical care. Moreover, almost one in ten (9%) will still avoid getting medical attention, even if they suspect they have a new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and not just similar symptoms.

Concern over the cost of COVID-19 treatment falls in proportion to the increase in socio-economic indicators.

The groups that are most likely not to seek medical care include more than 20% of non-white people under 30 years of age with a secondary education and earnings of less than $ 40 per year.

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Gallup noted that some socio-economic groups, as a rule, are less willing to seek medical help because they simply cannot afford it: African-Americans and Latinos are less likely to get health insurance than, for example, whites.

This is consistent with a Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted in March, which found that more than one-third (36%) of respondents were worried about being able to afford testing or treatment—and two-thirds of those without health insurance expressed concern about the cost of treatment and testing.

However, Congress recently passed a first aid law to make testing for coronavirus free. Most major US medical insurers have agreed to drop bonuses and other expenses out of their pocket for coronavirus tests.

According to a recent analysis of the healthcare system, treatment with COVID-19 may look very different: the cost can reach $ 20. It has been found that even people with health insurance from the employer can pay more than $ 000 per bill if they are hospitalized with a serious case of COVID-1.

Moreover, some stories about high medical bills related to COVID-19 spread, for example, a man from Miami who paid $ 3 for a coronavirus test after a working trip to China, or a man from Pennsylvania who created a page on GoFundMe to collect money and pay $ 270 after he was evacuated from China and quarantined with his three-year-old daughter.

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In April, Vice President Mike Pence assured that "billing will not be unexpected." The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also announced that high-deductible health insurance plans may cover testing and treatment of coronavirus.

Many people are now unable to pay medical bills.

A record 30 million Americans are unemployed due to layoffs associated with coronavirus. Although the government has allocated $ 290 billion in direct payments to individuals to help them cope with the pandemic, one in three Americans fears that this money will not be enough even for a month. Most already say that they already need extra money to make ends meet. Economic incentive payments are available up to $ 1 for people earning less than $ 200 a year, and $ 99 for couples.

Gallup notes that seeking help with symptoms of COVID-19 or suspected virus infection is an important part of the fight against the outbreak, as increased testing is key to a resuming economy. The White House plans to double its coronavirus testing in May to force states to begin lifting restrictions and quarantines.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• Many Americans have problems paying medical bills, and some barely make ends meet because of this. Now new website may help reduce medical costs.

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