A shocking new survey reports that medical costs are leaving a significant negative impact on the average American household seeking basic care – let alone those facing a major and expensive medical crisis, like so many of the patients we work with.
Here are the few of the most startling survey findings.
2.4 years: average time it takes to pay off a medical expense
The average American family can expend to spend not just months but years worried about covering the cost of medical care.
50% of Americans have delayed care due to cost concerns
Half of all patients have direct experience skipping medical care, from follow-up appointments to medication refills, due to the potential cost of care that they would have to cover out-of-pocket.
$12,126.22: average cost of emergency medical care before insurance or deductibles
While this number is daunting, it may be easy to react to it with, “Well, that’s what insurance is for!” Until you read the next statistic…
49%: average portion of a medical bill that is out-of-pocket
Based on these two stats taken together, the average patient can expect to pay an average of $5,931.85 for a major medical procedure. Would you have the funds available to pay? For most families, the answer is clear.
2 in 5 families have nothing saved for emergency medical care
Some Help Hope Live families are fundraising to help with medical costs they saw coming a long time ago, such as the funds they need for a second or third life-saving organ transplant. Many others are dealing with a medical crisis they could never have anticipated, from an out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis to a shockingly sudden catastrophic injury.
1 in 4 families have turned to fundraising or crowdfunding to help with medical costs
Patients can easily be #forcedtofundraise due to urgent medical needs and their associated costs. Nonprofits like ours shouldn’t exist, but we have to – until the immense financial burden associated with critical medical care is eliminated, permanently.
Written by Emily Progin
