Households are squeezing their income in order to pay for medical services that the CCSS should be providing them. Some are even finding themselves under the poverty line, having to pay into the public health system that’s failing them and also pay for private appointments, lab tests, and medicines.
A UCR survey indicated that 48% of people spend between ¢100,000 and ¢500,000 out of pocket annually on medical appointments, tests, and medications. This is because of long waiting lists and limited access to innovative drugs. The Covid pandemic and hacking of the CCSS didn’t help the situation either.
The survey asked “Do you believe that your expenses on health services have increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic?” 27.3% of people answered “yes.”
26% of people reported allocating part of their Christmas bonuses or school funding to pay for private health services.
The report showed an increase of 14.5% in out of pocket spending on health services in three years (2017-2019).
2% of the population declared themselves below the poverty line, unable to afford basic food, due to health expenditures.
