Are You Seeing Less of Your Doctor?

Posted on | August 13, 2008 | Comments Off on Are You Seeing Less of Your Doctor?

As the economy declines, so do visits to the doctor’s office

When the economy is in decline, families are forced to make difficult decisions. With high uninsurance rates in health care, and increasing deductibles and co-pays for those who are insured, it’s not surprising that we are now witnessing a decline in doctors’ visits linked to the financial downturn.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC’s overriding objective is to assist state insurance regulators in protecting consumers and helping maintain the financial stability of the insurance industry. They’ve been around since 1871, and are the oldest association of state officials.

A national survey of 686 consumers, just released by the NAIC, found that “22 percent of U.S. consumers say they have reduced the number of times they see the doctor as a result of today’s economy and 11 percent of consumers say they have cut back the number of prescription drugs they take or the dosage of those medications to make the prescription last longer.”

Not a good idea, according to NAIC President and Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, who says, “Delaying medical treatment and regular physicals puts consumers at risk for potential health issues — and increases overall health insurance costs. It’s critical that consumers continue to take responsibility for their health, so that we can all benefit from healthier lives and more affordable healthcare.”

And, while consumers might be making budget cuts in other areas, the NAIC’s survey revealed that the vast majority have not reduced, cancelled or otherwise made changes to their insurance policies.

“Insurance is an important — and oftentimes mandated — purchase for most Americans,” Praeger said. “That is why the NAIC and state insurance regulators are committed to helping every American be a smarter insurance consumer.” As for the impact on coverage, 2 percent have reduced coverage, 1 percent have fallen behind on payments and 2 percent have cancelled their policies.
For more information:
Call the NAIC’s toll-free hotline — 866-470-NAIC (6242) — to find out how to contact your local insurance department.

Visit www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm to link to your local insurance department’s Web site.

Visit www.insureUonline.org for additional tips specifically geared toward a variety of life situations.