Health News
- Poll Illustrates How Having Insurance And Access To A Health Care Provider Doesn't Mean You Can Afford The Care
Just because a person has appropriate access to a health care provider doesn't mean they can afford to pay for their services, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. The poll found that three out of every four Kentuckians with health...
- One Of Every Three Kentucky Adults Didn't See A Dentist Last Year; Key Factors Are Overall Health, Insurance And Income
More than a third of Kentucky adults say they didn't go to a dentist last year, and one in six said they hadn't in five years or more, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. The results show the challenges Kentucky adults who are...
- Foundation Breaks Down Poll By Region To Show Differences Among Kentuckians' Views On Health Topics And Issues
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has released regional breakdowns of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, conducted for it and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati last fall. Each breakdown outlines respondents? answers to various KHIP questions...
- 4 Of 5 Kentuckians Think Child Obesity Is A Problem, And More Than Half Favor A Statewide Smoking Ban, Poll Finds
More than four out of five Kentuckians think too many children are overweight, and more than half want a statewide smoking ban. These are two of key findings of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which also asked respondents about prescription drug abuse,...
- More Kentuckians Had Health Insurance In 2010, Survey Finds
Fewer Kentuckians lacked health insurance in 2010, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. About one in four Kentuckians ages 18 to 64 were uninsured last year, much the same as in 2008. Last year, at the depth of the recession, the uninsured...
Health News
Poll shows health care costs are a burden for many Kentuckians
A recent statewide survey shows health-care costs are a burden for many Kentuckians, especially for those who are poor and don't have insurance and put off getting care they need because they can't afford it.
More than 60 percent of Kentucky adults in the poll said high costs forced them or a family member living in their home to delay getting care in the past year. Not surprisingly, almost 90 percent of uninsured respondents reported going completely without care in the past year.
The Kentucky Health Issues Poll also showed that 48 percent have relied on home remedies when they are sick instead of going to a doctor, 43 percent have postponed care they needed, 37 percent have not filled a prescription or skipped a dental visit or checkup, 36 percent skipped a recommended medical test or treatment, and 16 percent have cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine for financial reasons. Overall, 64 percent answered "yes" to at least one of those questions.
?Although our economy is improving, many Kentucky families are still struggling financially. Our research shows healthcare costs have a significant impact on Kentuckians? actions,? said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll. ?Timely access to quality, affordable healthcare is important to restore and maintain Kentuckians? health and productivity. When we delay or go without care, illness severity and costs can escalate. Based on the KHIP results, many Kentuckians are taking risks with their overall health because of the expense.?
Rising costs of health care do not affect all Kentuckians in the same way; almost 40 percent of Kentucky adults reported that paying for health care and health insurance is not a financial burden. Those who did say costs were a burden said they were burdened equally by the costs of doctor visits, prescription drugs and insurance premiums or deductibles.
The poll was funded by the foundation and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. The poll was conducted Sept. 20 and Oct. 14 of last year by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults from throughout Kentucky was interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones, and the poll has a margin of error of plus or 2.5 points.
More than 60 percent of Kentucky adults in the poll said high costs forced them or a family member living in their home to delay getting care in the past year. Not surprisingly, almost 90 percent of uninsured respondents reported going completely without care in the past year.
The Kentucky Health Issues Poll also showed that 48 percent have relied on home remedies when they are sick instead of going to a doctor, 43 percent have postponed care they needed, 37 percent have not filled a prescription or skipped a dental visit or checkup, 36 percent skipped a recommended medical test or treatment, and 16 percent have cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine for financial reasons. Overall, 64 percent answered "yes" to at least one of those questions.
?Although our economy is improving, many Kentucky families are still struggling financially. Our research shows healthcare costs have a significant impact on Kentuckians? actions,? said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll. ?Timely access to quality, affordable healthcare is important to restore and maintain Kentuckians? health and productivity. When we delay or go without care, illness severity and costs can escalate. Based on the KHIP results, many Kentuckians are taking risks with their overall health because of the expense.?
Rising costs of health care do not affect all Kentuckians in the same way; almost 40 percent of Kentucky adults reported that paying for health care and health insurance is not a financial burden. Those who did say costs were a burden said they were burdened equally by the costs of doctor visits, prescription drugs and insurance premiums or deductibles.
The poll was funded by the foundation and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. The poll was conducted Sept. 20 and Oct. 14 of last year by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults from throughout Kentucky was interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones, and the poll has a margin of error of plus or 2.5 points.
- Poll Illustrates How Having Insurance And Access To A Health Care Provider Doesn't Mean You Can Afford The Care
Just because a person has appropriate access to a health care provider doesn't mean they can afford to pay for their services, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. The poll found that three out of every four Kentuckians with health...
- One Of Every Three Kentucky Adults Didn't See A Dentist Last Year; Key Factors Are Overall Health, Insurance And Income
More than a third of Kentucky adults say they didn't go to a dentist last year, and one in six said they hadn't in five years or more, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. The results show the challenges Kentucky adults who are...
- Foundation Breaks Down Poll By Region To Show Differences Among Kentuckians' Views On Health Topics And Issues
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has released regional breakdowns of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, conducted for it and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati last fall. Each breakdown outlines respondents? answers to various KHIP questions...
- 4 Of 5 Kentuckians Think Child Obesity Is A Problem, And More Than Half Favor A Statewide Smoking Ban, Poll Finds
More than four out of five Kentuckians think too many children are overweight, and more than half want a statewide smoking ban. These are two of key findings of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which also asked respondents about prescription drug abuse,...
- More Kentuckians Had Health Insurance In 2010, Survey Finds
Fewer Kentuckians lacked health insurance in 2010, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. About one in four Kentuckians ages 18 to 64 were uninsured last year, much the same as in 2008. Last year, at the depth of the recession, the uninsured...