The one health appointment Aussies keep cancelling: are you guilty?
Key takeaways
- Almost 1 in 4 Australians (23%) say they or a family member have gone without medical treatment in the past 12 months because of the cost, according to Finder's Health Report.
- Dental care was the most commonly delayed treatment, followed by GP visits and physiotherapy.
- What's next: Consider taking out private health insurance to help you manage healthcare expenses.
Millions of Australians are putting their health on the backburner because they simply can't afford to get the care they need.
New research from Finder's Health Report has found almost 1 in 4 Australians (23%) admit they or a family member have gone without medical treatment in the past 12 months due to cost.
What treatments or services are Australians putting off?
Dental care topped the list of delayed treatments, with 60% of Aussies kicking their dentist to the curb.
GP visits were the second most common casualty, with 43% delaying or avoiding an appointment with their doctor.
More than a quarter (27%) skipped physiotherapy, while 21% missed an optometrist appointment and 19% delayed seeing a specialist.
What was most concerning from the research was the number of Australians delaying potentially critical health checks.
14% put off skin cancer checks or mole screenings, the same proportion avoided scans or X-rays and 14% delayed therapy or mental health treatment, all due to cost.
Time you took out health insurance?
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The long-term cost of putting it off healthcare
Skipping a dental appointment or postponing a skin check might feel like a reasonable short-term trade-off when money is tight, but the long-term consequences can be far more expensive than the original bill.
Routine preventative care is designed to catch problems early, when they're easier and cheaper to treat.
A missed mole screening can turn a manageable skin concern into something far more serious.
A skipped dental check can mean a small cavity becomes a root canal, while a delayed GP visit can allow a minor issue to develop into a chronic condition.
What Aussies can do to
For Australians feeling the pinch of keeping up with their healthcare, private health insurance can help reduce out-of-pocket costs by providing access to services that can cost significantly more when paid entirely out of pocket.
You can compare health insurance policies from more than 40 funds on Finder to find cover that fits your budget.
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