This avoidance of the doctor's office results in greater reliance on urgent care and emergency rooms, particularly among lower-income individuals. (Photo: Shutterstock)
One of the essential coverage elements included in the Affordable Care Act was a requirement that insurers cover an annual physical with no cost-sharing for the consumer. Despite this "carrot" to encourage Americans to engage in preventive health care, nearly 1 in 5 Americans haven't been to a doctor in more than 5 years, according to a recent survey from Onlinedoctor.com.
The survey results highlight the range of challenges Americans face with our health care system, including affordability, access and trust. Among survey respondents, 23% express mistrust or are unsure if they can trust their primary care provider–a number that increases among Black and Hispanic populations. What's not to trust? According to Onlinedoctor.com, recommending unnecessary procedures topped the list (30%), followed by rudeness (24%) and public perception (22%).
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So why don't consumers just find a new provider? It's not that easy, of course. The nation as a whole faces a primary care shortage, and some geographic areas are worse off than others. Among respondents, 34% said their current doctor is the only one in their area, and 18% say it's the only one in their insurance network.
This avoidance of the doctor's office results in greater reliance on urgent care and emergency rooms, particularly among lower-income individuals, Onlinedoctor.com reports. In addition, young adults (18-24 years old) were twice as likely as the general population to rely on these options (12% versus 6%).
With so much emphasis on the role of preventive care in curbing more complex and costly health issues down the road, the report's findings highlight some key shortcomings that will need to be overcome to get greater buy-in from consumers.
Check out the graphics below to delve deeper into Onlinedoctor.com's results.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
