Medical Costs Can Impact Holiday Season for Families
The national online survey of 1,127
Among families who visited the hospital in the past two years, 73% faced medical expenses beyond copayments or deductibles. These out-of-pocket costs can be significant, with nearly half (47%) of those families reporting having spent
"While national conversations highlight how
Families are facing holiday disruption in various forms due to medical cost concerns in the last two years, including:
- Bowing out on holiday giving — Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) families say they had to spend less on holiday gifts, and fully 1 in 5 (20%) decided against purchasing a gift for a loved one altogether.
- Debt, the gift that keeps on giving — Over 1 in 4 (26%) families say they had to rely on a credit card, nearly 1 in 5 (18%) borrowed money from a friend or family member, and 12% took out a loan during the holiday season as a result of medical cost concerns.
- Skipping on season's greetings — Nearly 1 in 5 families (19%) canceled travel plans to see friends and family, and about the same number (18%) canceled holiday events. Further, wage earners in 17% of families picked up extra hours during the holidays to offset medical expenses, meaning less time spent with friends and family.
Regrets: The 'Ghost of Health Insurance Past'
Other findings from the Aflac survey indicate many
In addition, financial fears affect continued access to health care year-round, not just during the holidays, with 35% of families reporting that they have postponed their own medical appointments and 24% having postponed taking a family member to see a medical professional due to medical costs concerns.
"The annual benefits open enrollment season, which is underway at many
Survey findings on all individuals, not just those with children, are also available. Across all groups, the results held steady, with more than half (53%) of individuals reporting they had to make some type of sacrifice or hard decision during the holiday season because of medical costs. Specifically, 1 in 5 said they had to spend less on holiday gifts (21%) or rely on a credit card (20%) in the past two years due to medical cost concerns.
Learn more about the financial impact of health care issues at Aflac.com/HCI.
Methodology
The 2019
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Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of
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