U.S. workers are putting off routine health care such as checkups and screenings, according to a new study from The Hartford.
The Hartford, a property and casualty insurer whose business includes underwriting workers’ compensation coverage, recently released the results of its January 2022 Future of Benefits Pulse Survey that found 43% of the country’s workers have delayed health appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The online survey asked roughly 2,000 adults a series of health and employment-related questions between Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, according to The Hartford.
COVID-19 ranked as the biggest reason those surveyed said they’d delayed care, with 47% saying they delayed going to medical appointments for fear of contracting the novel coronavirus. Another 29% said they had difficulty getting an appointment, and similarly 25% said they needed to cancel appointments because of COVID-19-related restrictions or requirements. Twenty-four percent of respondents said they delayed appointments because of fear of other illnesses, and 21% said simply getting a check-up wasn’t a priority.
Per the results, 42% of respondents reported declines in their mental health, 41% in their social well-being, 32% in their financial security and 29% in their physical health.
Of those polled, 63% said their overall health and wellness impacts their productivity at work and 30% said they’re less engaged with their work. Another 25% of respondents said they have trouble concentrating or focusing.
The Hartford has also been tracking workplace burnout levels, and the recent survey found that the burnout rate was 61% in January.
