Nearly one in four adults in the U.S. are currently without health insurance, and only 33 percent of those without insurance have visited their primary care physician in the past two years, according to a Healthy World Report released by TeleVox Software, a provider of patient engagement communications (EC). The report, A Prevention Problem: Uninsured Americans Forgo Steps to Ensure Healthy Future, found that less than one in five uninsured adults consider themselves to be extremely healthy, and almost half of the adults surveyed admitted they are currently treating a disease or chronic illness – such as high blood pressure, a heart problem, diabetes or cancer – that could have been avoided or reduced in severity with the proper preventive measures.
“While the use of preventive care may seem to be the obvious choice for U.S. health consumers, the problem arises in the fact that many Americans are not taking advantage of this vital aspect of the wellness process,” said Scott Zimmerman, president of TeleVox Software. “This study uncovers that prevention isn't a priority for many – especially for the uninsured – and a lack of focus on preventive care is making America less healthy. Improving the collective health of Americans will be difficult and will be driven by forward-thinking healthcare providers who understand that doctor-patient engagement is key to ensuring a healthier future.”
A Prevention Problem found that those with health insurance exercise more routinely and are more likely to have improved their eating habits over the past two years than those without insurance. A Prevention Problem also offers a deeper look into how the lack of prevention is plaguing the U.S., specifically for the uninsured, the unemployed, parents and younger generations.
The full report can be found at http://www.televox.com/downloads/insured_vs_uninsured.pdf.
