Disparities in access to healthcare have been exacerbated during the recent pandemic.¹⁻³ The Harris Poll pandemic impact survey confirms these suspicions and explores key barriers to accessing healthcare.⁴ Learn more about these healthcare barriers here. 

Growing evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified racial and socioeconomic disparities due to reductions in access to, and utilization of, healthcare services.¹⁻³ To understand experiences of accessing healthcare during the pandemic, an online impact survey was conducted from September 30 through October 20 2021 among 4188 healthcare consumers and 602 healthcare providers across the US.⁴

Access barriers impact the socially disadvantaged and vulnerable

Half of all consumers reported delaying accessing healthcare services during the pandemic, with 64% of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) delaying access more often than other healthcare consumers.⁴ In addition to fear of COVID-19 virus exposure, lack of childcare, lack of transportation, and an inability to take time off were the primary reasons cited for delaying access to healthcare.⁴

Most notably, the survey revealed that access barriers impacted groups that are already likely to be vulnerable, including patients, caregivers, women, BIPOC, and those with depression or anxiety.⁴

Mental health diagnoses are increased 

It is perhaps not surprising to learn that 84% of doctors have reported an increase in mental health diagnoses (anxiety and depression) since the start of the pandemic, with nearly 65% reporting worsening conditions among existing patients.⁴ However, mental health conditions were more notable among Hispanic adults, women, younger adults, adults in lower income households, and those with lower education.⁴ 

Digital healthcare is not accessible to all 

Digital healthcare, such as telemedicine, has surged as a feasible tool to maintain patient care without risking exposure to COVID-19.^1,5,6 There is evidence that this approach has successfully helped with diagnosing, triaging, and treating patients without the need to visit emergency departments or outpatient clinics.^1,5–8 In fact, this survey found that 58% of healthcare consumers are likely to continue telehealth visits even after the pandemic.⁴ However, accessing telehealth relies on access to Wi-Fi and computers. In the survey, 36−54% of healthcare providers reported low-income households having limited access to telehealth.⁴ This finding, again, reflects potential for socioeconomic disparities in healthcare access, even within the virtual setting. 

Understanding barriers to healthcare access that have been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic is the first step on the path to equity.⁴ 

To learn more, download the Harris Poll Pandemic Impact Survey infographic.

References

1. Núñez A, Sreeganga SD, Ramaprasad A. Access to healthcare during COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(6):2980. 
2. Abedi V, Olulana O, Avula V, et al. Racial, economic, and health inequality and COVID-19 infection in the United States. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2021;8(3):732–742. 
3. Azar KMJ, Shen Z, Romanelli RJ, et al. Disparities in outcomes among COVID-19 patients in a large health care system in California. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020;39(7):1253–1262.
4. The Harris Poll. Pandemic impact survey healthcare consumers and healthcare professionals. 2021. 
5. Al-Sofiani ME, Alyusuf EY, Alharthi S, et al. Rapid implementation of a diabetes telemedicine clinic during the Coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak: our protocol, experience, and satisfaction reports in Saudi Arabia. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2021;15(2):329–338.
6. Abuzeineh M, Muzaale AD, Crews DC, et al. Telemedicine in the care of kidney transplant recipients with Coronavirus disease 2019: case reports. Transplant Proc 2020;52(9):2620–2625. 
7. Friedman D, Rajan B, Seidman A. A randomized trial of telemedicine for migraine management. Cephalagia 2019;39(12):1577–1585
8. Chuang C, Singh R, Lalvani N, et al. Patient experience of telemedicine for headache care during the COVID-19 pandemic: an American Migraine Foundation survey study. Headache 2021;61:734–739.

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