Nearly Half of Americans Are Delaying Medical Care Due to the Pandemic

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 48% of Americans said they or a family member has skipped or delayed medical care because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and 11% of them said the person’s condition worsened as a result of the delayed care. Medical groups have noted a sharp drop-off in emergency patients across the country. Some, including the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and American Heart Association, have publicly urged people concerned about their health to seek care.

According to the poll, nearly 7 in 10 of those who had skipped seeing a medical professional expect to get care in the next three months. Unfortunately for many physicians, patients are not returning to the doctor’s office fast enough. Physicians of all kinds, and particularly those who own and operate their own private practices, are struggling to survive as the downturn in patient visits continues to create overwhelming financial hardships.

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