Rising Healthcare Costs Hurting Middle Class Disproportionately

Since Gallup began asking the question roughly 14 years-ago, the highest number of Americans ever measured now say they are holding off on treatment due to rising healthcare costs. While the number of uninsured is reportedly falling, middle class Americans report delaying treatment more than ever, with percentages rising from 17 percent in 2013 to 28 percent this year.

The percentage of Americans earning from $30,000 to $74,999 that said they are delaying treatment increased from 33 percent 38 percent year-over-year.

“One of the goals of opening the government exchanges was to enable more Americans to get health insurance to help cover the costs of needed medical treatments,” said Gallup’s Rebecca Riffkin. “While many Americans have gained insurance, there has been no downturn in the percentage who say they have had to put off needed medical treatment because of cost.”

The percentage of Americans with private health insurance — the majority of which either have been or will be cancelled due to ObamaCare — who report putting off medical treatment because of cost, has increased from 25 percent in 2013 to 34 percent in 2014.

Wall Street Journal Telecom Reporter Ryan Knutson explained during an interview on Fox Business today — viewable above — what’s hurting middle class family budgets.

Further, even as the economy seems to be adding more jobs each month, the vast majority of jobs created in 2014 have been part-time, low-paying positions. Meanwhile, as the cost of necessities continues to climb and wage growth has been stagnant or falling in recent years, the costs for healthcare, food, rent, and Internet services have increased.