People with disabilities in a pinch due to high healthcare costs

Everyone conducted an exploratory study into the healthcare costs incurred by people with a disability or chronic illness in 2020. And what that meant for their financial and daily lives. For this purpose, a questionnaire was sent to the supporters of Elke(in), which was completed by 1,979 people. Various (experience) experts were also interviewed for the study.

Different healthcare costs come together

Almost all respondents incur various healthcare costs because of their disability or chronic condition. Almost all of them have made up their own risk in full. Almost all respondents also mentioned costs that are not reimbursed by health insurance. Nearly sixty percent pay a personal contribution for the Social Support Act (Wmo) and more than ten percent for the Long-term Care Act (Wlz). Most respondents have to deal with three or more different cost items.

Cutting back on basic needs

Half of the respondents indicated that they had difficulty making ends meet in 2020. About a third of this is due to healthcare costs. More than sixty percent of the respondents had to cut back on things such as clothing, groceries and outings. These cutbacks have various consequences: money stress, loneliness and a lack of money for ‘the nice things in life’.

Avoiding care and delaying care has consequences for health

In addition, almost half of the respondents avoided or postponed care or support because of the costs, such as visits to the dentist, physiotherapy, psychological help and the purchase of medical aids. This had consequences for their health for almost two-thirds of these respondents: worsening complaints, pain, bad(er) teeth and psychological complaints.

Measures against the accumulation of healthcare costs are urgently needed

Everyone wants the accumulation of healthcare costs of people with disabilities to become the spearhead of the new cabinet again. Careful consideration must be given to what needs to be done to accommodate people who are burdened by those healthcare costs. Think, for example, of abolishing the deductible, expanding the basic package or maximizing the total amount that people spend on healthcare costs. Another option is to re-introduce a good compensation scheme, according to the advocate for people with disabilities. Finally, something must be done about the personal contribution under the Wlz for people who are permanently dependent on care. That is much too high, concludes Elke(in).

You can find more information about the research here.

By: National Care Guide

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