Women are more likely to delay medical care due to cost, survey finds

Medical costs may pose a slightly larger problem for women than men, according to a recent survey by the FINRA Foundation, a regulatory organization. 

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The National Capability Study includes survey data from 27,564 adults, collected between June and October of last year.

Here are four findings.

1. In the U.S., about 21 percent of individuals reported having overdue medical bills  within the past year.

2. According to the report, female respondents were more likely than male respondents to delay medical services like physician visits, prescription drugs or medical procedures due to cost. About 31 percent of women reported experiencing difficulty with medical costs within the last year, compared to 24 percent of men.

3. Altogether, 56 percent of respondents said they didn’t have a rainy day fund to cover unexpected expenses, such as sickness or unemployment, during the next three months.

4. Study participants were asked five questions to test basic financial literacy. A passing score constituted four or more correct answers. About 63 percent of respondents got a failing score.

More articles on finance and revenue cycle management issues: 

CMS: ACA policyholders out-of-pocket costs declined this year
Moody’s: 5 mid-year updates on 2016’s top healthcare issues
New tool helps patients search care prices by physician, insurance plan

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