The number of individuals who are putting off treatment for a medical condition has re-hit an all-time high, according to the results of a survey conducted by Gallup. A record number of people — 25% — said they have delayed treating a “serious” medical condition and another 8% said they have postponed treatment for a less serious condition. The 33% ties the mark set in 2014.
But the 25% who are delaying treating a serious condition is the highest that data point has ever been, according to Gallup. Last year, that figure was at 19% and has more than doubled in the past two decades. When Gallup first asked these questions of Americans back in 1991, the rates were 11% for a serious condition and 22% overall.
As can probably be expected, the amount of money people make plays a big role in their healthcare choices. For individuals making less than $40,000 a year, 36% said they had delayed treating a serious medical condition, compared with 25% who make between $40,000 and $100,000, and 13% who make more than $100,000. But it is important to note that the rate increased across all three income groups from last year.
Gallup also asked for individual’s political affiliations and tracked the data that way, too. The number of Democrats who delayed treating a serious medical condition increased to 34% in 2019, from 22% in 2018. For Republicans, the number increase to 15% in 2019 from 12% a year earlier, and for independents, it rose to 25% from 22%.
As Gallup noted, “the sharp increase in the past year, particularly among Democrats, suggests that healthcare costs could be a more potent political issue than previously seen. Presidential candidates who acknowledge the problem and propose solutions to address it may find a receptive ear among voters.”
