New Report Reveals Coloradans’ Top Healthcare Affordability Concerns and Desire for Government Solutions

The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) released an extensive survey of Coloradans on the affordability of healthcare, finding that over two in three of all respondents delayed or went without health care due to cost in the last 12 months and nearly three in four experienced at least one health care affordability burden in the past year.

The survey of more than 1,400 Coloradans, part of the  Healthcare Value Hub’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey (CHESS), included the topics of affordability, prescription drug costs and hospital prices, as well as government-led solutions. The findings make it clear that Coloradans share deep worries, dissatisfaction, and a bi-partisan desire for policy responses.

Colorado families of all income levels lose sleep, and their health, over costs. Seventy percent of survey respondents had experienced at least one health care affordability burden over the last year, with a sobering 68% reporting delaying or going without medical care due to cost. Low-income respondents and those with disabilities had even higher rates of going without care due to cost and incurring medical debt, depleting savings, and/or sacrificing basic needs due to medical bills.

Of those that did receive care, 37% struggled to pay the resulting bills, and faced financial hardships such as depleting savings, being contacted by a collection agency, going without other necessities such as food, heat, and housing, and taking out loans or maxing out credit cards. An astounding 83% were worried about their ability to afford health care costs in the future.

“This survey is critical to understanding how consumers are experiencing health care even as more protections have been enacted,” said Priya Telang communications manager at CCHI. “Across party lines, across the state, and across income levels, people are struggling to afford their basic health care needs, or worse, aren’t even getting care because they’re afraid of the subsequent massive bills. Our policymakers must continue to advocate for consumers, even in the face of special interests.”

One issue is hidden fees. Matt Burin, an Arapahoe County resident who took his son to the emergency room with a broken arm and paid his expected copay for the appropriate care but received a bill for a facility fee a month later, said, “Hidden hospital fees and charges should not be the standard, and patients should not have to do extensive research to find out how much they are being charged before an appointment. I had the time and resources to dispute my son’s hidden charge, but many families don’t.”

Ben Los and his wife took their son to an outpatient office on a hospital campus, anticipating a bill for both the office visit and an EEG brain scan. What they didn’t expect was a third charge for “hospital services” that exceeded $2,500. Los said: “Health care costs in general are too high, but having a sudden medical bill in the thousands could bankrupt any family. Our son needed that test and we couldn’t delay that care.”

Prescription drug costs are a huge issue in Colorado. Over one-quarter of respondents said they cut pills in half, skipped doses, or did not fill prescriptions because of costs. Respondents of all income levels reported being worried about affording their Rx, from those earning under $50,000 and $75,000 (63% and 60%, respectively) even up to those earning over $100,000 (41%). Colorado residents across party lines support the state taking action on prescription drug costs, including establishing standardized prices, capping out-of-pocket costs, and preventing drug companies from charging more in the US than in other countries.

Giovanna Burno, a Denver County resident, takes 24 prescription drugs a month, thankfully paid by insurance for all months except one every two years. During this month she faces a rationed supply of pills as she can’t afford the whopping nearly $8,000 her pills cost monthly. “I’m lucky enough to have insurance most of the time but even then pill rationing is something I’m faced with. Big pharma shouldn’t be able to charge so much for prescriptions needed to maintain a standard lifestyle.”

On a larger scale, Coloradans want the government to act on unfair pricing practices in the healthcare industry: 41% say that “Healthcare” is the top issue the government should address in the upcoming year by reining in special interests like drug companies, big hospitals, and insurance companies.

Respondents most frequently reported believing that the reason for high health care costs is unfair prices charged by powerful industry stakeholders. Over 70% believe that drug companies, hospitals, and insurance companies charge too much. Patients want action and over 90% of respondents endorse solutions that:

— Require hospitals and doctors to provide up-front cost estimates to consumers

— Show what a fair price would be for specific procedures

— Require insurers to provide up-front cost estimates to consumers

— Make it easy to switch insurers if a health plan drops your doctor

— Cap out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medications such as insulin

— Set standard prices for drugs to make them affordable

— Authorize the Attorney General to take legal action to prevent price gouging or unfair prescription drug price hikes

In addition to questions about health care and prescription drug affordability, CHESS asked about the ability to estimate and compare hospital costs and quality of care. Over half (52%) of respondents were not confident in their ability to find the cost of a procedure in advance. Forty-seven percent reported that the available cost information was confusing; 36% reported that their provider or hospital would not provide a price estimate; and 33% reported that their insurer would not provide a price estimate.

Health care costs and drug pricing are bipartisan issues on which a significant percentage of Coloradans across the state expressed deep concerns, troubling sacrifice, and/or a financial inability to “follow doctor’s orders,” as well as a shared desire for government intervention.