A Healthcare System in Need of Fundamental Changes

Summary

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Among the survey findings: * In the past year, 76 percent of people who lack insurance themselves, and 71 percent of people with uninsured children, say someone in their family who was sick did not visit a doctor because of the cost. * Sixty-seven percent of the uninsured and 66 percent of those whose children are uninsured report skipping medical treatment or follow-up care recommended by a doctor. * Fifty-seven percent of the uninsured and 61 percent of people with uninsured children had to choose between paying for medical care or prescriptions and other essential needs (such as rent, mortgage or utilities). * Even those with health insurance (about three-quarters of all respondents) are deeply concerned about rising costs and declining quality of healthcare. * About 96 percent of insured respondents say they worry about being able to afford coverage during the next few years. * Ninety-four percent say they are dissatisfied with the cost of their current coverage, and 62 percent say they are dissatisfied with their healthcare quality. * More than half of those with coverage say it does not provide vital health services, such as prescription drugs, preventive care and check-ups, or it makes those services unaffordable.

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A Healthcare System in Need of Fundamental Changes

THE NATION'S HEALTHCARE system needs to be completely overhauled. That's the view of an astounding 95 percent of those who responded to the AFL-CIO's 2008 Healthcare for America surve...

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