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UPI Poll: Medical costs hinder health

By JANELLE ZARA, UPI Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The fear of having to pay for procedures out of pocket keeps nearly half of Americans from seeing a doctor, according to a recent Zogby/UPI poll.

About 45 percent of Americans surveyed believe healthcare costs are the No. 1 health issue in the United States today. Forty-two percent said their health insurance has at one point refused to pay for a medical or hospital bill they received, and 30 percent said they have hesitated to go to the doctor because they had no insurance.

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The interactive poll compiled data from 10,258 U.S. participants regarding health issues from Feb. 9 to 12. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.

When Americans put off going to the doctor, they increase their risk of the major causes of death, such as heart disease and cancer -- conditions that are also sometimes preventable, said Rick Mill of the American Medical Association.

For instance, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds and kills more than 150,000 people in the United States every year, according to the American Stroke Association, although regular blood-pressure checks can detect the risk factors of a stroke and perhaps prevent them from happening.

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High-blood pressure, a "silent killer," can be treated when detected early, said Rick Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. But without insurance, many Americans cannot afford the screening procedure.

As a result, many of those cases end up in the emergency room, Kellerman said.

Forty-seven million people in the United States lack health insurance, and most of the uninsured are either children or parents who work in low-paying jobs. In these situations, either the employer does not provide insurance, or it costs too much for the employee to buy.

The answer to the healthcare problem requires a fundamental shift in the country's entire healthcare system, starting with providing insurance and primary care for all, experts say.

The current system is too fragmented, Kellerman said, bouncing patients from specialist to specialist when they require regular comprehensive checkups. It should cover the entire patient, not just one organ or problem.

"We need political action to make that system work," said Judy Feder, a Georgetown University professor of public policy. "Consumers need to be attentive to politics and advocates for improvement."

Big changes need to be made before healthcare reform can fully support the consumer. For now, Feder offers advice on how consumers can help themselves.

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"Consumers need to be attentive to their employment choices and their health insurance options," she said. "Patients need a provider that they can count on."

People also need to pay attention to their own health habits and avoid risky behaviors, she added. For instance, doctors agree quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and sticking to a healthy diet and vigorous exercise schedule can dramatically improve wellbeing.

In the Zogby/UPI poll, less than 5 percent of Americans listed heart disease and cancer as their main health concerns, although they are the leading causes of death in the United States.

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