Stress About Health Insurance Costs Reported by Majority of Americans

March 01 10:05 2018 by ushadmin

Two-thirds of U.S. adults (66 percent) cite the cost of health insurance as a stressor for themselves, their loved ones, or in general, when asked about specific health issues that cause them stress. This stress about the cost of health insurance seems to affect Americans at all income levels.

In addition, more than six in 10 adults (63 percent) cite uncertainty about the future, both with their own health and that of others, as a source of stress. Insurance costs and looming uncertainty about the future are just two of the numerous causes of stress surrounding health, according to the American Psychological Association’s report, Stress in AmericaTM: Uncertainty About Health Care based on data from the annual Stress in AmericaTM survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll.

Released today, the report takes a deeper look at how health and health care is affecting the stress levels of Americans. Sixty percent of American adults say personal health concerns or health problems affecting their family are a very or somewhat significant source of stress. Sixty-four percent of those with less than $50,000 in annual household income cite health insurance costs as a source of stress for themselves, their loved ones, or in general, while 69 percent of those with annual household incomes of $50,000 or more report stress from the cost of health insurance.

The survey also found that uninsured adults report significantly higher average stress levels of 5.6 (on a 10-point scale, where 1 is “little or no stress” and 10 is “a great deal of stress”) when compared with adults who have health insurance (4.7)…