Staying Healthy During Hard Times: The Impact of Economic Distress on Accessing Care and Chronic Disease Management

摘要

The recent economic downturn andlimited “jobless recovery” has placed an increasingnumber of individuals at-financialrisk. In Rhode Island the unemploymentrate has consistently ranked among thehighest in the country, exceeding 12%throughout much of the recession. Theloss of jobs coupled with the out-migrationof younger workers to more areas withmore robust economies has concentratedneed among those remaining while atthe same time reducing the tax base andresources available to assist them.1,2,3,4,5What is less well known is how medicalcosts are considered during economicdownturns and in the context of othercompeting basic needs, particularly whenthose costs are “fixed” and health care ormedications are considered less urgently.Medical debts are the second most commoncause of personal bankruptcy6 andcost has a direct effect on where and whenan individual seeks care.7