About half of New Yorkers surveyed said a $1,000 emergency medical bill would put them into debt.
A new study conducted by health insurance company MetroPlus Health shows that New Yorkers need accessible and affordable health care to ensure their economic resilience and well-being.
Half of survey respondents said they could not afford to pay a $1,000 emergency medical bill without going into debt. Additionally, 58% of respondents admitted they would put an unexpected $1,000 windfall toward medical expenses rather than saving or investing it toward future goals, according to the news release.
Approximately 40% of those surveyed have had to make lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing leisure activities or shopping, to manage medical costs, highlighting the trade-offs families make to stay healthy. Ta.
Additionally, 62% of respondents said they were worried that medical costs would delay achieving important life milestones such as starting a family, buying a home, or retiring.
Additionally, 84% of survey respondents believe that eliminating health care costs could dramatically improve their lives. When asked how respondents would direct their household finances once health insurance was fully covered, more than half (54%) would prioritize saving for retirement, while more than half (54%) would prioritize travel (38%) or home ownership (24%). Some people dream of %).
The organization said in a news release that while 96% of New Yorkers have health insurance, nearly one-fifth (19%) report having difficulty covering their medical costs, which is an issue that precludes financial security. He said that this is a major barrier to welfare.
