The constantly rising costs of health care are keeping many Americans (even those with so-called “good” insurance policies) from seeking treatment, according to managers of patient-assistance hot lines in Massachusetts.

The cost of health care used to be a problem mostly for poor families without insurance. Now, even those with employer-paid insurance coverage are struggling. At issue are copayments and deductibles. Insurers are increasing these patient-pay costs, so that even the insured are now drowning under medical debt.

Chronic conditions like allergies and asthma pose a significant problem. Chronic conditions often require regular treatments, prescriptions and medical devices. Some patients with allergies are asthma are now avoiding treatment due to the cost of the copayment or deductible.

The current recession is behind part of the new increased costs. Employers – stretched to the limit – want to continue to provide insurance, but must reduce the cost to the company. This is often achieved by shifting more of the costs to employees in the form of higher copayments.

Insurers are also behind the increases, through higher deductibles and bigger percentage copays. Another tactic that strives for higher profits and reduced costs centers around keeping patients with their family doctor and away from (more-expensive) specialists through higher co-payments. However, many patients with conditions like allergies or asthma need fairly regular consultations with experts in the field. This can lead to sky-rocketing costs for the patient.

ENT specialist Dr James Kenealy said that patients are avoiding allergy shots due to copayment costs. Kenealy indicated that he loses a patient a week who says they can’t continue therapy because of high copays.

This problem doesn’t just hit an individual patient. Family physician Dr James Broadhurst notes that children often visit doctors frequently for both childhood illnesses and preventative medicine like vaccines. This can mean significant costs for parents.

Lawmakers are taking note. One proposal cosponsored by Senator Mark Montigny and Representative Charles Murphy would see insurers unable to assign either deductibles or copays for drugs and devices required for a chronic condition.

This would be good news for those with asthma and allergies.

Source: Boston.com