Despite the surging unemployment rate and continuing corporate layoffs, nearly twice as many U.S. adults are concerned about the rising cost of healthcare as are concerned about losing their jobs.

A nationally representative survey found that 69% of adults in the U.S. said they were worried about the cost of healthcare, while just 37% expressed similar concern about staying employed. The affordability anxiety is even affecting higher-income families, where households earning more than $75,000 saw healthcare-cost concerns jump from 39% last year to 50%.

The annual Health Security Index™ survey, commissioned by Catholic Healthcare West, was conducted by Yankelovich (part of The Futures Co.) to measure perceptions of individuals' confidence about their health and healthcare.

"Today's headlines are justifiably focused on the overall economic crisis, but our Health Security Index findings show that healthcare affordability is a significant and enduring concern," said Lloyd Dean, president/chief executive officer of Catholic Healthcare West. "Simply put, healthcare costs too much. Change is clearly overdue, and the need for improvement is undeniable."

The overall CHW Health Security Index, which measures a wide range of perceptions about health and healthcare, held relatively steady compared to a year ago, and the survey contained some troubling findings:

* For the first time, more than half (51%) believe the healthcare system in the U.S. is getting worse;
   
* One in five U.S. adults (20%) have had to choose between buying medicine and paying for other necessities, like groceries or heat for their homes;
   
* Those who work at small businesses are less secure (HSI of 63) than at larger businesses (HSI of 70);
   
* Three out of four of those closest to retirement age (50-64) are worried about the availability of Medicare;
   
* A majority of adults in the U.S. (83%) believe making healthcare affordable for every member of society should be one of Congress' most important issues in the coming year.
   
The CHW Health Security Index is a composite score of public perceptions about individuals' ability to get access to the services they need to maintain their personal sense of health. In general, the nation's overall sense about healthcare security has remained consistently low over the past three years, with a score of 65 out of 100 in 2009, down from 66 in 2008 and 2007. This stability is due primarily to adults' overall confidence in the quality of care available to them, their ability to get access to that care, and their generally positive sense of personal health. Concerns about affordability are responsible for keeping the Index low.

"Although the overall Health Security Index ranking for the nation remains consistent, there is a widening security gap between the more affluent and the more vulnerable members of society," said Steve Bodhaine, president of the Custom Research Group at The Futures Co. "That gap is cause for greater concern, and it represents a great potential for tension in the marketplace. It's certainly something policy makers need to be mindful of when they seek to address the healthcare needs of the nation."

In addition to the national survey, supporting qualitative research was conducted to better illuminate the findings that have emerged from the national survey. Excerpts can be viewed at: http://www.healthsecurityindex.org.