Fewer Americans Say Cost Is a Barrier to Getting Care, But U.S. Has Long Way to Go
<p>Results from a new Commonwealth Fund survey of adults in the U.S. and 10 other countries, published yesterday in <em>Health Affairs</em>, show fewer Americans are finding that cost is a barrier to getting care since the Affordable Care Act took effect. In a companion <em>To the Point</em> post, The Commonwealth Fund’s Dana Sarnak, Michelle Doty, David Squires, and Robin Osborn explain that despite these gains, the U.S. still has a long way to go compared to other high-income nations.</p><p>The authors look at some of the reasons why the U.S. remains an outlier, such as lack of universal coverage, less financially protective health insurance, and higher health care prices.</p>
<p>“While it is still too early to make predictions about where the Trump administration will take U.S. health care, closing the gap with other countries will require building on our progress, not reversing it,” the authors say.
</p>