Millennials are skipping doctor visits to avoid high healthcare costs (study finds)

[nikcers]

Millennials are skipping doctor visits to avoid high healthcare costs, study finds


Americans are feeling increasingly exposed to higher healthcare costs. In particular, high-deductible health plans are on the rise. (http://www.businessinsider.com/out-of-pocket-healthcare-payments-skyrocketing-2016-9) According to a September survey (http://kff.org/health-costs/press-release/average-annual-workplace-family-health-premiums-rise-modest-3-to-18142-in-2016-more-workers-enroll-in-high-deductible-plans-with-savings-option-over-past-two-years/?utm_campaign=KFF-2016-September-EHBS&utm_content=39585919&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter), the percentage of workers with an insurance plan that requires them to pay up to $1,000 out of pocket passed the 50% mark for the first time. That means consumers have a clearer picture of how much healthcare costs them.

A new survey (https://amino.com/blog/survey-shows-americans-are-seriously-worried-about-healthcare-costs/), conducted by consumer healthcare company Amino (https://amino.com/) and market research company Ipsos, looked into how that change is affecting Americans' approach to healthcare.
Of the 1,000 adults polled, 74% said their healthcare costs have gone up over the last few years.
For millennials (survey respondents between the ages of 18-34), 27% said they will put off visiting a doctor to avoid high costs. And 29% of millennials worried about whether their insurance would cover basic costs, compared to just 13.5% of people over the age of 35.


Under the Affordable Care Act, a number of routine and preventive services (like an annual exam) are for free or heavily subsidized. But because there are now more people with high deductibles, which leave them on the hook for at least $1,000 of their medical costs before insurance kicks in, there are some concerns about how much routine blood work or a new prescription might cost.


The survey also found that more than half of Americans tend to be under-prepared for healthcare expenses: 55% got a bill that they didn't budget for. (Many people with high deductible health plans are eligible for health savings accounts, which they can use to fund that out-of-pocket cost until their deductible is met.)
But there is a bright spot: 70% of people under 34 talked to their healthcare providers about costs before going for a visit, compared to 50% of those over 35.

[Brian4Liberty]

Just heard a story yesterday about a person who needed a MRI. They were going to charge $3,200.00, she would have to pay a little over $2k as deductible, her insurance would cover the rest. She wasn't going to get it done because of the cost. Then her friend told her to find out how much she could get it done for by paying cash. Cash price was $300, so she got it done.

[phill4paul]

Just heard a story yesterday about a person who needed a MRI. They were going to charge $3,200.00, she would have to pay a little over $2k as deductible, her insurance would cover the rest. She wasn't going to get it done because of the cost. Then her friend told her to find out how much she could get it done for by paying cash. Cash price was $300, so she got it done.

Yup. Happens all the time. If government were out of the business the market would correct itself. The only insurance need would be for a catastrophic plan and healthcare would become affordable.

[Brian4Liberty]

Yup. Happens all the time. If government were out of the business the market would correct itself. The only insurance need would be for a catastrophic plan and healthcare would become affordable.

Well, insurance is a form of collectivism or socialism unto itself, which hinders competitive pricing. Even without government, all forms of insurance have this problem. Auto, dental, medical, etc. For example, when the auto insurance is paying for repairs, no one cares what the price is. The people at the insurance company don't care. The repair place charges as much as they can. The driver generally just pays their deductible, and have no say in the total price.

The only place that a consumer might compare prices is when purchasing insurance. The price of the actual service is not truly negotiated.

[Schifference]

Doctors hold your prescriptions hostage and demand you see them.

I have been on a medication for over 20 years. In the past I would have to go in every few years for labwork and physical. I called a few weeks ago to get my prescription filled and was later called by the doctors office. I was told I needed lab work. Okay no problem. A few minutes later another message that I need to schedule a medication visit with the doctor. I questioned why and stated I have been seeing the doctor for years and been on the medication since 1990. She said I have to see doctor every 6 months.

[Brian4Liberty]

Doctors hold your prescriptions hostage and demand you see them.

I have been on a medication for over 20 years. In the past I would have to go in every few years for labwork and physical. I called a few weeks ago to get my prescription filled and was later called by the doctors office. I was told I needed lab work. Okay no problem. A few minutes later another message that I need to schedule a medication visit with the doctor. I questioned why and stated I have been seeing the doctor for years and been on the medication since 1990. She said I have to see doctor every 6 months.

In a free market, you could look for a new Doctor.

[Valli6]

"Millenial" has little to do with it. Young adults have always been the ones who avoid seeing doctors, and have trouble paying for it when they do.


Just heard a story yesterday about a person who needed a MRI. They were going to charge $3,200.00, she would have to pay a little over $2k as deductible, her insurance would cover the rest. She wasn't going to get it done because of the cost. Then her friend told her to find out how much she could get it done for by paying cash. Cash price was $300, so she got it done.
This is astonishing. I hear such stories from time to time, but have never found myself in a position where it could be worked out. I couldn't get a discount on my cat's MRI with cash. I know people in radiology/imaging and will have to take a closer look into this possibility.

[Schifference]

In a free market, you could look for a new Doctor.

Regulations have put a stranglehold on doctors. The problem is not the doctor. If they don't comply they are out of business.

[Brian4Liberty]

This is astonishing. I hear such stories from time to time, but have never found myself in a position where it could be worked out. I couldn't get a discount on my cat's MRI with cash. I know people in radiology/imaging and will have to take a closer look into this possibility.

Yeah, I have been told in the past that there were no cash discounts. It seems like they really don't want to be public or open about it. This story came from the patient. It was probably after she had told them she couldn't afford the deductible. Not sure if she used the same facility or went to another.

[Gumba of Liberty]

In a free market, you could look for a new Doctor.

In a free market, you could get your drugs from 7/11.

[specsaregood]

In a free market, you could get your drugs from 7/11.

In a black market, you can sometimes get your drugs from 7/11.

[specsaregood]

Yeah, I have been told in the past that there were no cash discounts. It seems like they really don't want to be public or open about it. This story came from the patient. It was probably after she had told them she couldn't afford the deductible. Not sure if she used the same facility or went to another.

probably contractual limitation, such as with credit cards. with most merchant agreements, they are forbidden from advertising a cash discount.

[tod evans]

The Amish clinics only take cash.

Last time I needed to be stitched up it was $300.00 for 12 in the muscle and 16 dermal sutures on my face...

Never even inquired about the ER.

[fisharmor]

A cartel doesn't start becoming a good thing if what the cartel provides is affordable.

[shakey1]

On an issue of this magnitude affecting all citizens, a referendum on whether or not the government should be involved with health care at all would be in order.

[euphemia]

This might be the only good takeaway from Obamacare. People are now aware of how expensive the industry has become.

[nikcers]

Doctors hold your prescriptions hostage and demand you see them.

I have been on a medication for over 20 years. In the past I would have to go in every few years for labwork and physical. I called a few weeks ago to get my prescription filled and was later called by the doctors office. I was told I needed lab work. Okay no problem. A few minutes later another message that I need to schedule a medication visit with the doctor. I questioned why and stated I have been seeing the doctor for years and been on the medication since 1990. She said I have to see doctor every 6 months. This has been my deal ever since the ACA and my insurance company hasn't changed. My girlfriend gets called in for Lab work after 90 day prescription she gets from them, she used to get refills over the phone. We've tried 3 places and they all do the same thing after the 90 day script is done. She hates going to doctors as it is, so just because she has to go twice (one for lab work second for script) she stopped taking blood pressure medicine.

[osan]

Well, if this pares their numbers significantly - say over 50%, I will have to call Obamacare an oblique success.

[Schifference]

This has been my deal ever since the ACA and my insurance company hasn't changed. My girlfriend gets called in for Lab work after 90 day prescription she gets from them, she used to get refills over the phone. We've tried 3 places and they all do the same thing after the 90 day script is done. She hates going to doctors as it is, so just because she has to go twice (one for lab work second for script) she stopped taking blood pressure medicine.

I could control Blood Pressure by diet and or exercise. My medication is for a seizure condition. I take less than 100mg Phenobarbital at bedtime. Seizure free while on this one low dose pill for years. Tried to wean myself off about 12 years ago and had a seizure.

[donnay]

I could control Blood Pressure by diet and or exercise. My medication is for a seizure condition. I take less than 100mg Phenobarbital at bedtime. Seizure free while on this one low dose pill for years. Tried to wean myself off about 12 years ago and had a seizure.

Have you done any research into cannabis oil or coconut oil to help prevent seizures?

[juleswin]

I went to urgent care Nov 2016 because I was having what I thought was conjuctivitis. I looked up my insurance and it pointed to me the hospitals I could go to that was going to be covered by my insurance. I picked the one closest to me which was about 15 miles away from my place. When I went there, I discovered that the hospital took my insurance but the urgent care unit did not take my insurance. The told me that my other option was to wait another 4 hrs to visit the clinic that was going to take my insurance.

It was November and I still hadn't touched my deductible, so I decided to vsit the urgent care clinic anyway. Its not like there was a chance in this world that I was going to reach my deductible limit by year end. I explained to the secretary what I wanted, I told her that essentially I am coming here to get a prescription for an antibiotic for my ailment. I then asked her for a price for the visit and she told me $180 seeing as I was a new patient and they would need to create a file for me and all. I reluctantly agreed to do this mainly because my mom who was visiting insisted that I see a doctor. Normally, I would have done nothing about it

Long story short, I went into the clinic and the nurse took my vitals, listened to my lung and chest sounds and asked a few biographical questions about me in about 5 mins. He then called the doctor who confirmed to me that I had conjunctivitis in another 7 mins. He embarrassingly explained to me that I must not have washed my hands thoroughly after wiping my a** before prescribing me some antibiotics. I paid up my hospital visit bill, went to the pharmacy and got my pills and within a couple of days taking the pills, my eyes were clear.

Anyway, 1 month later I started getting a bill in the mail for $58 from this hospital. Remember, they did not run any tests on me, just assessment and prescription. The bills was for the visit which I thought I had settled with the hospital. So I am fighting with them now cos I refused to pay. Sorry but I am not going to pay $240 for a 12 mins check up and a prescription.

And next time, I am going to be even more hesitant to go to the hospital after that horrible experience.

[Swordsmyth]

This has been my deal ever since the ACA and my insurance company hasn't changed. My girlfriend gets called in for Lab work after 90 day prescription she gets from them, she used to get refills over the phone. We've tried 3 places and they all do the same thing after the 90 day script is done. She hates going to doctors as it is, so just because she has to go twice (one for lab work second for script) she stopped taking blood pressure medicine.

Tell her to take olive oil and L-Citrulline instead

[Schifference]

Have you done any research into cannabis oil or coconut oil to help prevent seizures?

I did lots of research. A friend of the family was a leading edge environmental doctor that ran tests using some fancy machine many years ago. He prescribed many vitamins told me which foods I was allergic to, and made a special serum to put a few drops under the tongue. I know about cannabis oil. The problem is I am on a very low dose of medication once daily and have absolutely no seizures. Other people are on several or many medications multiple times a day and cannot control their seizures. The Phenobarbital works and is cheap. For many people the biggest issue is finding something that works. I have no seizures. When changing medications under a doctors care, driving privileges are suspended. Too many issues. When I go in next month I will see what the doctor has to say.

When I was first treated by this doctor 13 years ago he wanted me to see a neurologist which I did. The neuro wanted me to take one of the newer more modern anti-seizure drugs. At the time I was getting the pheno 100 pills for $9. That was more than a 3 month supply. The new drug at the time would have cost like $500 per month. I told my primary MD that I just wanted the pheno and didn't want to see the neuro again. He has been accommodating me since.

[donnay]

I did lots of research. A friend of the family was a leading edge environmental doctor that ran tests using some fancy machine many years ago. He prescribed many vitamins told me which foods I was allergic to, and made a special serum to put a few drops under the tongue. I know about cannabis oil. The problem is I am on a very low dose of medication once daily and have absolutely no seizures. Other people are on several or many medications multiple times a day and cannot control their seizures. The Phenobarbital works and is cheap. For many people the biggest issue is finding something that works. I have no seizures. When changing medications under a doctors care, driving privileges are suspended. Too many issues. When I go in next month I will see what the doctor has to say.

When I was first treated by this doctor 13 years ago he wanted me to see a neurologist which I did. The neuro wanted me to take one of the newer more modern anti-seizure drugs. At the time I was getting the pheno 100 pills for $9. That was more than a 3 month supply. The new drug at the time would have cost like $500 per month. I told my primary MD that I just wanted the pheno and didn't want to see the neuro again. He has been accommodating me since.

My sister's dog had seizures and was prescribed phenobarbital. The problem with taking the phenobarbital causing liver problems. So she had to bring the dog into the vets every 3 to 6 mos. It was becoming very costly for her. Then a friend suggested a holistic vet. They weaned her dog off the phenobarbital and started to give her supplements like; SAMe, magnesium, Turmeric, K1 and 3 tbsp's of organic cold pressed coconut oil daily, and she never had a seizure again.

I have heard a lot of good things about a Ketogenic Diet to stop seizures as well.

[enhanced_deficit]

At least they have insurance cards now.

[Schifference]

I was just thinking that there is another good reason to skip doctor visits. Diagnosis. Who would want an evil diagnosis hanging over their head for the rest of their life?

Oh yes another thing that recently happened. My wife needed blood work for an upcoming exam. She went to a lab and was billed by the lab and had to pay them. She has not yet had the appointment with the doctor. She asked the lab for the results and they will not provide her with results for tests that she has paid for. They say she has to get them from the doctor.

[devil21]

In a free market, you could look for a new Doctor.

My SO was fired as a client by her dentist yesterday because she wouldn't agree to yearly x-rays that could be billed to her insurance company. She has magnificent teeth and had been doing x-rays every 5 years for preventative reasons alone. They claimed it was a liability thing. Yeah sure. The system is all screwed up.

She also received a bill in the mail for $340 from some medical company but they couldn't explain what it was for, where it was from or anything. Just pay us $340. They told her it was probably a clerical error and to ignore it for now. I reminded her how a major part of Obamacare was the addition of hundreds of new diag codes into the systems. Hundreds of new ways to try to suck money out of the middle class.

[silverhandorder]

Just heard a story yesterday about a person who needed a MRI. They were going to charge $3,200.00, she would have to pay a little over $2k as deductible, her insurance would cover the rest. She wasn't going to get it done because of the cost. Then her friend told her to find out how much she could get it done for by paying cash. Cash price was $300, so she got it done.
I paid 400$.

Honestly no one will actually charge someone that much money. They make these quotes because this was their opening bid when they negotiated with inssurance.

I do think the MRI I had could have easily been 200$. Big issue is even relatively sick people dont need more than 2-3 grand for great care even now. I am speaking from personal exp. I ended up learning a lot about what raises costs for doctors too. Shit like legal not letting the doctor talk to you by email is bs.

Also quality of healthcare between NJ and NYC is very different. NYC is overcrowded, everything is rushed and impersonal for the poor masses.

[DamianTV]

https://www.statista.com/chart/8658/health-spending-per-capita/
https://infographic.statista.com/normal/chartoftheday_8658_health_spending_per_capita_n.jp g

I wonder why people, not just Millenials, are trying to avoid the doctor?

Oh, and I wonder what happens when there is no Medical Privacy? Pay more for illnesses that are beyond your control to do anything about? Sounds about right. When all Medical Privacy is completely eliminated, do you think that those costs will get better, or worse? Hint: this is 'murika where the rich make more by providing lower quality services and products for as high of a possible cost as can be achieved...

---

Related RPF Thread:

America's #1 Again (In Healthcare Costs Around The World)
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?508970-America-s-1-Again-(In-Healthcare-Costs-Around-The-World)&p=6439783#post6439783

[Zippyjuan]

Well, insurance is a form of collectivism or socialism unto itself, which hinders competitive pricing. Even without government, all forms of insurance have this problem. Auto, dental, medical, etc. For example, when the auto insurance is paying for repairs, no one cares what the price is. The people at the insurance company don't care. The repair place charges as much as they can. The driver generally just pays their deductible, and have no say in the total price.

The only place that a consumer might compare prices is when purchasing insurance. The price of the actual service is not truly negotiated.

When you don't pay the full cost for something, you demand more of it than if you did actually have to pay your full costs. People want insurance to pay for everything for them and then complain that their insurance costs too much when it is their usage which helps drive up those costs. With insurance, we can make personally rational decisions but socially irrational ones. Say you get sick. You can go to the drug store and pick up some medicine- $8 for a bottle of asprins, $10 for cough medicine, $20 for a decongestant. Or go to the doctor and besides the cost of the visit, get a prescription for a cough suppressant, a fever reducer, and a pain reliever. In co-pay you maybe paid $10 each for the prescriptions or $30. The over the counter medicines would have run you $38 so going to the doctor was cheaper. But doctor charged say $100 for the visit and the prescription were billed at $50 each (random numbers). That means that what was cheaper for you out of pocket cost significantly more (and that cost was added to your next insurance bill so you don't see the connection) in real life.

If you have coverage, you also likely go to see the doctor when you really didn't need to- again, adding to the total costs of providing health care.

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.statista.com/chart/8658/health-spending-per-capita/
https://infographic.statista.com/normal/chartoftheday_8658_health_spending_per_capita_n.jp g

I wonder why people, not just Millenials, are trying to avoid the doctor?

Oh, and I wonder what happens when there is no Medical Privacy? Pay more for illnesses that are beyond your control to do anything about? Sounds about right. When all Medical Privacy is completely eliminated, do you think that those costs will get better, or worse? Hint: this is 'murika where the rich make more by providing lower quality services and products for as high of a possible cost as can be achieved...

---

Related RPF Thread:

America's #1 Again (In Healthcare Costs Around The World)
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?508970-America-s-1-Again-(In-Healthcare-Costs-Around-The-World)&p=6439783#post6439783

Noting that most of the countries on that list have socialized, single payer medicine systems. Medical privacy? In those countries, the government has access to all your medical data. A significant part of our costs (some estimate 40% or more) is due to overhead- the costs of handling all the paperwork involved. That is also the highest in the world. When you have multiple insurance companies with multiple different coverages and different forms each one needs that takes lots of time.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/images/publications/in-the-literature/2014/sep/himmelstein_comparison_hosp_admin_costs_ha_09_2014 _itl_exhibit.png?la=en

[DamianTV]

Noting that most of the countries on that list have socialized, single payer medicine systems. Medical privacy? In those countries, the government has access to all your medical data. A significant part of our costs (some estimate 40% or more) is due to overhead- the costs of handling all the paperwork involved. That is also the highest in the world. When you have multiple insurance companies with multiple different coverages and different forms each one needs that takes lots of time.

Youre sooooooo right. We should just give up and let them take all our Medical Privacy, not for actual medical usefulness, but so each of us can pay our "fair share" based on information gathered from that same Medical Invasion of Privacy for BILLING purposes. And we should pay 90,000 for drugs if we have MS, be denied for anything and everything for any form of Preexisting Medical Condition, allow medical marijuana to be made illegal once again as it should be, obey our reptillian overlords, ground our Tinfoil Hats so they dont act as amplifiers, consume Roundup With Glyphosate, not actually treat medical conditions, and shoulder the financial burdens despite having some sort of Mandatory Health Insurance and not Health Care (in its current evolving form), and have no control of our persons what so ever.

Please go take a long hike off a short dock.

[Zippyjuan]

Youre sooooooo right. We should just give up and let them take all our Medical Privacy, not for actual medical usefulness, but so each of us can pay our "fair share" based on information gathered from that same Medical Invasion of Privacy for BILLING purposes. And we should pay 90,000 for drugs if we have MS, be denied for anything and everything for any form of Preexisting Medical Condition, allow medical marijuana to be made illegal once again as it should be, obey our reptillian overlords, ground our Tinfoil Hats so they dont act as amplifiers, consume Roundup With Glyphosate, not actually treat medical conditions, and shoulder the financial burdens despite having some sort of Mandatory Health Insurance and not Health Care (in its current evolving form), and have no control of our persons what so ever.

Please go take a long hike off a short dock.

Wow. I did not claim all of that. Or any of it. I was merely pointing out one reason ours costs more than in those other countries.

[DamianTV]

Wow. I did not claim all of that. Or any of it. I was merely pointing out one reason ours costs more than in those other countries.

No, what you suggest is a continuation of the problem, and exacerbation of it.

[Zippyjuan]

No, what you suggest is a continuation of the problem, and exacerbation of it.

Actually I didn't suggest anything.

[RJB]

At least in the crowd I hang out with, unless it's something like a fracture or something serious, most medical care is seen as worthless unless you want to get narcotics.

[opal]

Several years ago, I thought I broke my foot. I went to a neighborhood walk in clinic.. that I thought had an ex ray machine. They didn't. Hubby schlepped me to the local hospital, where they sat me down for "intake" and told me that just that script, a couple pictures of my foot would be $1050.00. I told them to pound salt - and had to fight to get my prescription back. They thought I should sit down and start the paperwork for financial aid. At the time, I didn't have insurance.
I went home and called around to a bunch of imaging places.. drove an hour (most things were an hour away) and had the pics done for $93.. cash rate - which I still thought was outrageous. This was before obamacare