A new study by the Commonwealth Fund reports that Americans are much sicker than people living in 11 other high-income countries.
According to the study, 28 percent of American adults said they have two or more chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure. At 22 percent, Canada showed the second highest rate of chronic conditions but the highest rate of emotional distress at 27 percent.
Other nations surveyed included Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In each of the countries surveyed, at least 14 percent of adults reported having multiple chronic conditions.
The study further reveals that Americans are more likely than others to go without recommended healthcare, fail to fill a prescription or avoid the doctor when sick because of costs. About a third of U.S. adults said they skipped needed healthcare because they couldn’t afford it. And adults in the U.S. report greater financial barriers to accessing care than those in the 10 other countries surveyed.
