Idaho Statesman Logo

People scrimping on health care as economy slumps | Idaho Statesman

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Boise
    • West Ada
    • Canyon County
    • Crime
    • State News
    • Nation/World News
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Idahoans in the Military
    • Weather
    • Traffic
    • Helping Works
    • In the Classroom
    • Our Community
    • Sports
    • Boise State Football
    • Boise State Basketball
    • Idaho Vandals
    • High Schools
    • Bronco Beat
    • Chadd Cripe
    • Varsity Extra Blog
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLB
    • Golf
    • Idaho Politics
    • Elections
    • Government and Business
    • Capitol & State
    • Letters from the West
    • National Politics
    • Business
    • Business Insider
    • Business Columns & Blogs
    • Personal Finance
    • Legal Notices
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Bill Manny
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Guest Opinion
    • Submit a Letter or Opinion
    • Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Arts and Culture
    • Festivals
    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Music
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Puzzles
    • Words & Deeds
    • ArtsBeat
    • Outdoors
    • Playing Outdoors Blog
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Hiking and Trails
    • Hunting
    • Winter Recreation
    • Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Treasure
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Best of Treasure Valley
    • Heart of the Treasure Valley
    • Margaret Lauterbach
    • Tim Woodward
    • Carolyn Hax
  • Obituaries

  • Contests
  • Advertise
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Business

People scrimping on health care as economy slumps

John Dorschner - The Miami Herald

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 09, 2009 09:35 AM

More heart attacks, fewer breast implants. More ER visits, fewer trips to the doctor's office. More aspirin, fewer echocardiograms. And many people are afraid to miss work for healthcare because they fear it might cost them their jobs.

That's the anecdotal evidence from several dozen healthcare providers in South Florida about how the deepening recession is effecting treatment.

While it has been well-publicized that many people are losing health insurance when they lose their jobs, doctors and hospital leaders have been surprised about how many who still have coverage are scrimping on care because they can't afford the co-pays or time away from work.

Take South Dade Realtor J. Berry Hamilton, 57. She's gone to a policy with a $5,000 deductible, meaning she has to pay most costs out of her own pocket. Recently, she brushed off her doctor's request for a diagnostic exam when she got a sinus infection. As her business has declined, she figures: "Let me see if the antibiotic works first, and if it doesn't then maybe I'll have the X-ray."

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

"Patients are spending less, no question about it," says Bernd Wollschlaeger, a primary care doctor in North Miami Beach. "A patient needs a echocardiogram. And they say they can't afford the $100 or $200 co-payment, so they're deferring. In the long run, this just can't be good for healthcare."

People are certainly pinching their pennies. For the five hospitals in Baptist Health South Florida, Vice President Karen Godfrey reports that patients are now hesitating on tests and procedures even with co-pays as low as $15, "which is very surprising.

"One of the registration managers was telling me some are negotiating for services. If a woman gets a prescription for a mammogram and an ultrasound, she wants to know the co-pay for both," then pick the test with the cheaper co-pay.

To read the complete article, visit www.miamiherald.com.

  Comments  

Videos

Fastest growing jobs in the United States through 2024

Sassy? You bet. Cheekys’ country-girl chic clothing-and-accessories line is an Idaho business with national appeal.

View More Video

Trending Stories

Boise Hawks’ stadium to host big rock festival. Free beer in ticket price? Cheers, punk

February 19, 2019 11:58 AM

The million-dollar Boise home? Ho-hum. See who’s buying houses for $2 million and up

February 19, 2019 10:18 AM

Stick this in your pipe and smoke it, Utah! Idaho is one of least sinful U.S. states

February 20, 2019 04:04 PM

Boise businessman said franchiser double-crossed him. What Idaho’s Supreme Court ruled

February 20, 2019 02:16 PM

Cold case breakthrough: Man charged with murder in 1995 death of Idaho teen

February 20, 2019 05:09 PM

Read Next

Police: ‘Empire’ actor staged attack to ‘promote his career’
Video media Created with Sketch.

Entertainment

Police: ‘Empire’ actor staged attack to ‘promote his career’

By DON BABWIN Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 08:55 AM

"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett staged a racist and homophobic attack because he was unhappy about his salary and wanted to promote his career, Chicago's police superintendent said Thursday.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE BUSINESS

The Latest: Police: Smollett sent racist letter to himself

Entertainment

The Latest: Police: Smollett sent racist letter to himself

February 21, 2019 08:22 AM
Saint Al’s didn’t file Medicare claims for a year. What does that mean for patients?

Business

Saint Al’s didn’t file Medicare claims for a year. What does that mean for patients?

February 21, 2019 07:20 AM
US home sales tumbled 1.2 percent in January

Business

US home sales tumbled 1.2 percent in January

February 21, 2019 09:00 AM

Business

Nestle Purina to expand factory in Bloomfield, add 30 jobs

February 21, 2019 08:59 AM

Business

Wisconsin Realtors revoke support for Hagedorn in court race

February 21, 2019 08:57 AM

Business

Committee tables bill requiring supermajority to raise taxes

February 21, 2019 08:57 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Idaho Statesman App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story