Struggles with housing costs during pandemic linked to lack of health care for many Californians

Key takeawaysA report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research draws a clear correlation between Californians ’ struggles to pay for housing and their lack of access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.The findings are based on data from the 2021 California Health Interview Survey.About one-third of  adults who faced housing affordability issues delayed needed medical care during that year, the survey found.One of California ’s ongoing challenges that was magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic was the lack of affordable housing. Now,a report published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research draws a strong connection between residents ’ struggle to pay for housing and a lack of access to health care.   The report is based on responses to the 2021 California Health Interview Survey, which is conducted by the center.   Across the state, the survey found, 1 of every 10 adults — or 3 million people — had difficulty paying to keep a roof over their heads in 2021. While 5.0% of homeowners said they had difficulty making mortgage payments, the situation was more dire for renters, 18.6% of whom said they had trouble paying their landlords. In addition, housing instability — caused by overcrowded living situations or a need to move frequently, for example — was an issue for 4.4% of California adults, or about 1.39 million people. The report suggests that those factors negatively affected people ’s use of health care resources. The survey also found ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news