2008 Healthcare Results

Paying for healthcare stands out as a strain for many respondents. Community Action asked survey respondents about the cost and accessibility of healthcare insurance and the cost of medicine and doctor visits. Most respondents indicated that they have healthcare insurance and are able to pay for necessary medications.

However, a large number agreed that they skip doctor visits to save money and fifty-nine percent agree that they have difficulty paying any medical bills they incur. Skipping regular check-ups as well as visits when respondents are moderately ill puts them at risk of becoming severely ill or allowing serious diseases to go undetected. Besides the astronomical costs of dealing with these health problems when they do arise is the increased risk of life-threatening complications.

Notably, these survey questions only cover basic healthcare insurance and not dental or vision. When asked to finish the statement, “What I want most is …” most Omaha focus group participants responded with medical care, dental care, and/or glasses.

Many who cannot afford any healthcare insurance face the difficulty discussed by focus group residents in Sidney who said, “No medical insurance and even a simple accident with a surgery can put you in a situation from which you can’t recover.” Even those with insurance had concerns. Kearney focus group participants noted that, “Health care assistance is not provided or has a high rate and high deductible when it is provided.”