Rising health care costs force Kansans to postpone care, new survey reveals

Topeka, Kansas (Sept. 3, 2024) – Half of Kansans have delayed seeing a doctor or going to a hospital because of the cost of care, according to a new survey commissioned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS). The cost of health care remains a top issue of concern for Kansas residents, second only to inflation. 

“This survey shows an immediate need for everyone in the health care community – from health plans to policymakers to hospitals – to keep costs and affordability in mind,” said Matt All, President/CEO of BCBSKS. “It's unacceptable that Kansans are delaying needed care because of cost.”

Key survey findings included:

• Health care costs for copays and bills are viewed as a problem for nearly 8 in 10 Kansans, trailing only the cost of groceries and gas.
• When it comes to the topic of health care, cost is overwhelmingly the most important issue, topping quality of care, access to care and equity of care by almost a 2:1 margin.
• 45% say hospital bills have increased a lot in the last few years. Residents report seeing hospital bills rise faster than insurance premiums and copays. 
• 51% of Kansans occasionally or regularly put off hospital care because of the cost. 

"These results show that Kansans are deeply concerned about the costs of health care," said Chris Anderson, Founder and President of Beacon Research. "This poll provides a real-time snapshot of how prices are impacting their decisions on whether to access care and what consumers are experiencing in our health care system statewide."

Reducing health care spending at BCBSKS

BCBSKS is committed to working with others in health care to reduce spending while delivering exceptional value to members. Among the steps the company is taking:

• Improve value: Partnering with hospitals and providers to agree on contracts that incentivize high-quality care and services, which has been shown to reduce costs and improve value.
• Collaboration: Working closely with hospitals and physicians on contracts that protect families and businesses from unsustainable health care price increases and enhance the overall value of services provided.
• Ensuring affordability: Protecting families and businesses from unsustainable health care price increases to ensure they receive maximum value for their health care expenditures.
• Addressing prescription drug costs: Ensuring members receive high-quality, clinically appropriate prescription drugs through value-based contracts, rebates, and partnerships to enhance value and manage costs.
• Efficient use of premiums: Of every insurance premium dollar a BCBSKS member pays, 89 cents goes back directly to member care through claims by health care providers.

Methodology

A total of 1,032 Kansas adults were interviewed for this survey between June 11-21. The survey was conducted using a mixed methodology approach with approximately one-quarter of the interviews conducted by live interviewer telephone calls and three-quarters via a representative online panel. Slight weights were used to bring the demographics of the sample in line with actual demographics of Kansas. 

Poll results can be found here.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

For more than 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit bcbsks.com.