Health Care Costs Worrisome For Many Americans

A recent study found a majority of Americans have changed their spending habits as a direct result of healthcare costs.

More than 70 percent of Americans said the recent economic troubles directly affected healthcare spending decisions. Approximately 60 percent said these expenses hurt their purchases of everyday items. Another 25 percent were forced to not see the doctor when sick or hurt.

"We have been examining consumers' interactions with the health care system since 2008," said Dr. Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "A new trend has emerged this year suggesting that economic uncertainty has clearly altered spending habits with many consumers reporting an impact on their out-of-pocket health care expenses. Regardless of the type of health care system, government-run or private, consumers around the world are feeling the pinch."

Consumers who have health insurance that does not completely cover their expenses should not charge the fees to cover costs, as this is a way of accruing a dangerous amount of credit card debt. Instead, check with your healthcare provider to see if a payment plan is available.