[rad-green] One Quarter of Americans Say They or Family Member Delayed Medical Care Over Cost in Last Year

*https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/09/setting-gallup-record-quarter-americans-say-they-or-family-member-delayed-medical
<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/09/setting-gallup-record-quarter-americans-say-they-or-family-member-delayed-medical>Common
Dreams          December 9, 2019Setting Gallup Record, Quarter of Americans
Say They or Family Member Delayed Medical Care Over Cost in Last Year"This
is the 'choice based' system Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg want to
preserve."by Eoin Higgins, staff writer*

[image: A new report shows that Americans under the current healthcare
system are delaying care.]

*A new report shows that Americans under the current healthcare system are
delaying care. (Photo: Jim Watson/Getty Images)*

One-in-four Americans admits they or a member of their family this past
year has delayed medical treatment of a serious illness due to costs,
according to a new Gallup survey published Monday.

The number is the highest ever recorded by Gallup on the question.

"Another 8% said they or a family member put off treatment for a less
serious condition, bringing the total percentage of households delaying
care due to costs to 33%, tying the high from 2014," the report said
<https://news.gallup.com/poll/269138/americans-delaying-medical-treatment-due-cost.aspx>
.

Delayed care can have serious ramifications on health, well being—and even
the economy, according to the report.

And it could be a political issue lurking in the background of the 2020
general election:

While most of the increase Gallup sees in delayed treatment occurred over a
decade ago, the sharp increase in the past year, particularly among
Democrats, suggests that healthcare costs could be a more potent political
issue than previously seen. Presidential candidates who acknowledge the
problem and propose solutions to address it may find a receptive ear among
voters.

The report highlights the dire condition of the U.S. healthcare system at a
time when Democratic candidates for the party's 2020 presidential
nomination are debating whether or not to institute Medicare for All, the
policy advocated for by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the
frontrunners in the party's primary.

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe
Biden have resisted a universal system—a position that *The District
Sentinel*'s Sam Knight noted
<https://twitter.com/knight69420/status/1204027787415298048> on Twitter in
response to the new Gallup data.

"This is the 'choice based' system Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg want to
preserve," said Knight.

Knight added <https://twitter.com/knight69420/status/1204029947565740033> that
claims from centrist Democrats that all that's needed is to build on the
Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," are empty.

"When people say we need to fix Obamacare instead of gunning for single
payer, please note that Obamacare did nothing to stop people from delaying
treatment for cost based reasons," said Knight. "It did force you to pay
monthly premiums to for-profit companies denying you care though!"

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