Poll show Pennsylvanians delay treatments because of healthcare costs; Have medical debt

• Scott LaMar
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  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

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Aired; November 27th, 2023.

The two biggest expenses most Americans have traditionally faced is a mortgage or rent and a vehicle. It looks like the cost of healthcare can added to the list of largest debts for many.

Results of a statewide poll released last week finds 57% of Pennsylvanians say they struggle with affording medial care and half are delaying or avoiding medical care due to its cost.

Other results of the poll include:

• Nearly 3 in 5 struggled with at least one healthcare-related financial burden in the last year;
• More than 4 in 5 worry about affording health care in the future;
• More than half delayed or went without health care due to cost in the last year;
• 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians are either incurring debt, taking out loans, or sacrificing basic necessities in order to pay their medical bills, and 1 in 4 have medical bills that are overdue;
• Rural Pennsylvanians reported higher rates of going without care and rationing medications due to cost; still, nearly half of those living in urban areas went without care due to cost; and
• Across party lines, Pennsylvanians show strong support for government action, endorsing a wide range of policies aimed at lowering healthcare costs.

Joining us on The Spark Monday were Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network and Laura Smith of Allegheny County, who survived cancer and the removal of a tumor but faced medical bills she couldn’t afford afterwards.