Survey Finds U.S. Health Security Anxiety

A Catholic Healthcare West survey suggests high healthcare costs and fear of losing health insurance coverage are making some U.S. citizens uneasy.

The San Francisco-based organization, which operates the nation’s eighth largest hospital system, said responses to its 20-minute, nationwide telephone survey found 60 percent of those questioned worry about their ability to afford needed healthcare services, while 72 percent favor creating universal healthcare coverage. And 83 percent believe Congress should make affordable healthcare a top priority for the coming year.

One in five respondents (20 percent) said they avoided getting a recommended health test during the past year because they could not afford it. Among the uninsured U.S. population, that number more than doubles to 44 percent, the survey indicated.

The survey was conducted for CHW by The Segmentation Co., a division of Yankelovich Inc.