- Drug Benefit Trends Vol 21 No 4
- Volume 21
- Issue 4
Persons With Chronic Conditions Ill-Served by Health Care System
Many persons with chronic conditions are not getting the care and support they seek from the health care system, according to findings of a survey of 1109 persons aged 44 years and older with at least 1 chronic condition, stratified as baby boomers (aged 44 to 63) and seniors (aged 65 and older). Among their biggest complaints, persons with chronic health conditions say their physicians do not spend enough time with them. They also report having had to put off care because of cost.
Many persons with chronic conditions are not getting the care and support they seek from the health care system, according to findings of a survey of 1109 persons aged 44 years and older with at least 1 chronic condition, stratified as baby boomers (aged 44 to 63) and seniors (aged 65 and older). Among their biggest complaints, persons with chronic health conditions say their physicians do not spend enough time with them. They also report having had to put off care because of cost.
The telephone survey, conducted January 5 to 30, 2009, by Lake Research Partners, was commissioned by the National Council on Aging, with support from The Atlantic Philanthropies and the California HealthCare Foundation. The report is titled Re-forming Healthcare: Americans Speak Out About Chronic Conditions and the Pursuit of Healthier Lives. Chronic or serious conditions for which those surveyed had received a professional diagnosis included heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, depression, and anxiety. The survey included oversamples of Latinos (n = 142) and persons aged 65 and older (n = 594).
One-quarter of respondents aged 44 and older say they have postponed medical care or filling prescriptions in the past year because they could not afford it (Cover Figure). Latinos (43%) and baby boomer women (39%) were most likely to have delayed care because of cost. Persons who have delayed health care because of cost are nearly twice as likely as others to be frequently in pain (45% vs 28% of those who did not delay care) and to be feeling stressed (40% vs 17%) as a result of their health conditions.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents rely (“a lot or some”) on health care providers for help with their health problems, followed by spouses/partners (52%), and friends and relatives (50%).