Economy forces consumers to cut back on health care

KANSAS CITY, Mo. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, American are cutting back on health care as a way to save money in today’s economy, as reported by The Washington Business Journal.

Nearly a quarter of the 686 consumers polled across the U.S. said they have reduced the number of visits they take to a doctor as a result of the rough economy. Also, 11 percent said they have scaled back on the number of prescription medications they take or the dosage of medications to make the prescription last longer.

Despite the cutbacks in healthcare spending, the association’s July 2008 survey revealed 85 percent of the respondents have not reduced, cancelled or made changes to their insurance policies.