Health Status of Poor Deteriorating
Aug 20, 2012
A recent study commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association shows that there is a growing inequality in access to health care. One in four Canadians earning less than $30,000 annually have delayed or stopped taking prescription drugs because they did not have money to pay for the treatment.
In contrast, fewer than one in 30 citizens earning more than $60,000 a year has had trouble paying for necessary medication. The study also demonstrates that the health status of low-income Canadians is also deteriorating.
Thirty-nine percent of those earning less than $30,000 per year said their health was “excellent” or “good,” compared to 68 percent of the higher wage-earners. This gap (29 points) is significantly higher than that found in a similar poll done by the CMA in 2009, when it was 17 percent.
According to the CMA, the problem is that the public insurance system has not kept pace with the needs of patients. Medicare currently covers all physician and hospital services, but does not cover prescription drugs, home care and long-term care, which are necessities for most people with chronic illnesses. It’s estimated that 80 percent of health-care needs come from these very patients.
Canadians rely on private insurance for services not covered under medicare. But about six million citizens lack private insurance for things like prescription drugs, vision care and physiotherapy.
And the cost extends beyond the individuals who are unable to afford these treatments. Economic productivity and greater health-care expenditures long-term are consequences that affect society more generally.
Not surprisingly, the study also found that those with low incomes tend to be less healthy and to use more health services.
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