Young people hit hardest by health costs, study finds

A survey from mail-order pharmacy operator Medco Health Solutions found that nearly 70 percent of adults aged 25-34 claim that the current economic climate has made it difficult for them to pay for health care expenses (Source: “Survey: Health care costs hitting young adults hardest,” Dayton Business Journal, Oct. 6, 2008).

Conversely, more than half of adults older than 55 reported that the economic downturn had no impact on their ability to pay for health care, according to the survey.

"College loans, car payments and housing expenses are the typical costs of living you would expect a young adult to be worried about -- but certainly not the cost of health care," said Paul Reyes, Medco pharmacist and co-host of Medco's national Ask the Pharmacist program. "Seniors are by and large well-versed in saving money on health care; but young adults, who are now facing more chronic diseases, may not be as wise in the ways of saving."