We all know that health care costs have been skyrocketing over the last few years. Health insurance is nearly unaffordable, medical expenses are causing bankruptcies, and business everywhere are struggling to provide health insurance to their employees. These are the facts, and we’re all aware of them. But something we haven’t quite been aware of is the statistics – until now. The Kaiser Family Foundation just released the results of their first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll of 2009. This poll is just the first of a series of polls designed to examine voter’s specific interests in health care issues and experiences, along with their perceptions on health care reform. Although we don’t imagine you’ll find the results very surprising, the statistics are still quite interesting to review.

More than half of all Americans – 53% to be exact – say that their household cut back on health care in 2008, due to concerns over the medical costs.

35% relied on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs rather than visiting a doctor

34% skipped dental care dental check-ups

27% postponed obtaining needed health care

• 19% delayed going to the doctor for a temporary illness (common cold, stomach flu)

• 19% postponed seeking preventive care (yearly physical exam)

• 10% delayed visiting the doctor for a chronic health problem (diabetes, asthma)

• 6% postponed a minor surgery

• 5% delayed a major surgery that required an overnight hospital stay

23% chose to skip a recommended medical test or treatment

21% did not fill a prescription, due to cost concerns

15% saved on prescription drug costs by cutting pills in half or skipping doses

Yet, often times, medical care cannot be postponed or avoided. And the statistics related to the financial hardships of medical costs are even more alarming.

19% have had recent serious financial problems due to family medical bills

13% claim to have used up all or most of their savings to pay off medical costs

13% acknowledge having difficulties paying other bills because of their high medical bills

12% admit to being contacted by a collection agency

The statistics aren’t really surprising so far, are they? But keep reading, they start to get a bit more interesting…

Obviously, health care reform has been a hot topic over the last several months. It was a widely debated subject during the Presidential race, and President Obama has made it a priority since his victory. In fact, during his recent State of the Union address, he acknowledged that health care reform is one of his main goals, and that it simply cannot wait any longer. And that’s how many Americans feel as well…

62% of Americans say that it is more important than ever to take on health care reform.

Surprisingly, though, health care reform is only ranked fourth in the American public’s priorities for the President and Congress:

1. Improving the Economy
2. Making  Medicare and Social Security more financially sound
3. Fighting Terrorism
4. Health Care Reform
5. Reducing the federal budget deficit

And, even more interestingly, many Americans don’t even believe that health care reform will benefit their family personally.

59% believe that health care reform will benefit the country as a whole

Yet only 39% feel that it will personally benefit them or their family

43% don’t believe that health care reform will impact them at all

But one thing remains quite strong: the American public believes in President Obama.

An astounding 72% have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in President Obama to initiate health care reform.

- View the complete Kaiser Health Tracking Poll results; all data contained in this post was obtained from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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