34% of patients delay, skip out on payments for dental expenses

Nearly half of Americans delay dental and medical treatment due to the costs, according to a survey by DentalPlans.com and cited by Study Finds.

DentalPlans.com surveyed 2,000 Americans over 18 months, which showed before insurance or deductions the average cost of emergency medical care in the U.S. tops $12,126. Of which, Americans typically pay 49 percent of the bill out of pocket.

Further, the survey revealed it takes patients 2.4 years to pay off their medical or dental expenses. Some patients (34 percent) delay payments or try to escape bills altogether. Twenty-five percent of patients turn to crowdsourcing and fundraising websites to raise money to pay their bills.

Below are 10 medical worries for Medicare patients:

1. Dentures/veneers: 27 percent
1. Trauma: 27 percent
3. Broken bones: 23 percent
4. Hip/knee replacement: 22 percent
5. Lost tooth: 20 percent
6. Root canal: 19 percent
7. Cavity: 13 percent
8. Chipped tooth: 12 percent
9. Stiches: 11 percent
9. Concussion: 11 percent

Below are the factors in delaying treatment:

1. Cost: 45 percent
2. Time: 19 percent
3. Fear of bad news: 11 percent
3. Don’t like it: 11 percent
4. Travel: 8 percent

https://www.beckersdental.com/dentists/34509-34-of-patients-delay-skip-out-on-payments-for-dental-expenses.html