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Survey: Many in KY Still Struggle With Health Care Affordability

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Many Kentucky adults still have a hard time affording health care, according to a Kentucky Health Issues Poll.

In 2015, 20 percent of Kentucky adults either didn't get care or delayed care due to the cost.

Susan Zepeda is president of Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.  She says having insurance coverage is a great start, but it doesn't always get the whole job done.

"Although, more and more Kentuckians are able to get the care they need in a timely manner, there is still work to be done. There are still people who are delaying care or finding that they're unable to handle the medical bills after they receive care," Zepeda said.  

Kentuckians earning 138 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level were more likely to delay or forego medical care. Delaying care was a common choice among 27 percent of insured and 31 percent of uninsured Kentuckians.

Zepeda says individuals and families having a tough time paying medical bills should speak with their health care providers.

"Always, the best option is to begin with the care provider to seek some kind of relief either in the form of delaying your payments or perhaps negotiating a lower payment amount.”

The poll was conducted by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Interact for Health.

Ja'Nel Johnson covers community health for WFPL News.
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