As the election heats up, it’s inevitable that health care will become front and center as one of the hotly contested issues between the presidential candidates (who appear to have starkly different, though at times, similar positions).
But here are a few statistics that require both the candidates’ attention:
- For two years running, about 1 in 2 Americans admit they have put off needed health care and have avoided going to a doctor when necessary.
- The main barrier to getting care (by far) is cost, followed by lack of time, insurance problems, and an overriding concern about what might be discovered.
![barriers-to-seeking-out-health-care](http://www.veraquestresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/barriers-to-seeking-out-health-care-300x226.jpg)
Nothing has changed on these statistics since mid-2010 (when we started tracking the data) despite Obama’s health care law passing at about the same time two years ago. But I think we can all admit that avoiding a doctor is not the right answer to solving any health crisis. So what’s the public policy solution here – how can we get Americans to make and keep their doctor’s appointments? If you were the presidential candidate, what would you suggest?
Perhaps a 20% deductible discount could be tied to the completion of an annual check-up…?