Chronically ill say economy has hurt them

BOSTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- More than one-third of people with heart disease or diabetes say the economy has had a negative impact on their health, a U.S. survey indicates.

The poll by the Harvard School of Public Health and Knowledge Networks says 21 percent with cancer also say the economy has hurt their health.

Forty-seven percent with heart disease, 48 percent with diabetes and 27 percent with cancer say the economic downturn will hurt their health in the future.

Thirty-five percent with heart disease, 34 percent with diabetes and 22 percent with cancer say the economic downturn has forced them to use up most or all of their savings to pay for medical bills, co-payments and other fees due to their illness.

In addition, up to one-quarter of the groups of heart, diabetes and cancer patients have gone into credit card debt, while 4 percent with heart disease, 9 percent with diabetes and 3 percent with cancer declared bankruptcy because of the economic downturn's impact on their ability to pay medical bills.

Less than 15 percent with heart disease, diabetes or cancer say they will be better off under the new healthcare reform law, the survey says.

The survey, conducted Oct. 27-31, involved 508 with heart disease, 506 with diabetes and 506 with cancer and has a margin of error of 6 percentage points.