Cost keeps doctors at bay

Going to the doctor is too expensive for 14 per cent of Kiwis.

Catherine Hedges, 53, says it's a pain to pay $50 to go to the doctors, but she's got no choice.

She accepted the cost because she needed to get her blood pressure checked and prescription updated.

But 14 per cent of sick Kiwis avoid visiting the doctor or getting prescriptions because of the cost, according to a recently released US study.

The Commonwealth Fund survey of adults from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US focused on healthcare access, cost and insurance coverage.

Seeing a GP generally costs $31-$55 for adults enrolled with a medical practice and 0-$15 for enrolled children.

Says Hedges: "It would be nice if it was less, but you pay because you have to." She tried to put money aside for medical care and got over-the-counter medicine for colds and flus rather than go to the doctor.

"You get hardened to it and do it because you have to. They give me an account and I pay the next week online, when I have budgeted for it."

Hedges also planned to cancel her $47-a-fortnight surgical and hospital health insurance plan because of the cost.

Hamilton's Margaret Perry, 71, has avoided going to the doctor four times in the past six months because she cannot afford the $38 fee.

"What I try to do is get the nurse to see me so I don't have to pay or get something from the pharmacy," she said.

When Perry hurt her arm a few weeks ago her doctor treated her for free because she couldn't afford to pay.

"Everything's gone up and costs just escalate beyond your income."

The Commonwealth Fund survey showed the New Zealand figures were an improvement from six years ago when 34 per cent of people avoided medical care.

Increased support in primary health since 2001 had been a "positive step" toward reducing costs for patients, said New Zealand Medical Association chairman Dr Peter Foley. "But it's disappointing to see patients still unable to see a doctor because of cost," he said.

The New Zealand figures compared favourably with several other countries surveyed.

At 33 per cent, Americans were the most likely to go without medical care because of cost; and 25 per cent of Germans, 22 per cent of Australians and 15 per cent of Canadians also avoided care.

The UK was the lowest of the 11 countries, with 5 per cent going without medical care.

Six per cent of Kiwis had major problems paying medical bills, compared with 9 per cent or less in all other countries apart from the US at 20 per cent.