Nearly three-quarters of Wisconsinites do not believe they can afford their health care out of pocket costs, according to a new survey of state residents by Health Payment Systems Inc. (HPS)/PayMedix.
Key takeaways from the survey include:
- Nearly two-thirds of Wisconsinites claim preventative health care is unaffordable;
- A full one-third of respondents report their medical bills are too difficult to understand;
- Nearly half of respondents in the last six months have had to sacrifice a medical need due to financial concerns; and
- Most Wisconsinites would not be able to cover a $400 medical bill today without making a financial sacrifice.
The PayMedix survey found that 73% of respondents say their out-of-pocket costs are not affordable while 67% believe that their deductibles are not affordable. These issues are particularly more difficult for women and those in Gen Z and Gen X.
While delaying bill payments is a concern across the board, delay in payment is most prominent among Gen X (59%) and boomers (61%). Meanwhile, Gen Z are the least likely to skip medical payments; however, 48% of this group have skipped medical appointments and 31% have changed providers due to financial concerns.
