Healthcare costs top survey on economic burdens facing U.S.
Costs associated with healthcare were ranked as the most significant financial burden to the U.S. in a new survey released by GOBankingRates.com.
The survey asked respondents to rank six choices from most to least significant burden. Healthcare costs were put at the top by 31 percent of those participating.
“Even more alarming, every age group, with the exception of people under 24 years old and people over 65, chose healthcare costs as most significant more than any other factor," said Kristen Bonner, research lead for GOBankingRates' Financial Burdens Survey.
Behind healthcare costs were Social Security benefits, income inequality, tax increases, higher education costs, and military spending.
Baby boomers aged 55 to 64 were the most likely to list medical costs as their top concern, being listed as the country’s top economic burden by 40.5 percent of respondents. A similar number of older Generation Xers (those between the ages of 45 to 54) also placed it atop their lists.
Across all age groups, women were more likely to list healthcare costs as the top financial burden than men.
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.