Bennington
LGBTQ Healthcare Barriers Lead Many Adults to Skip Needed Care, Survey Finds
LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than other adults to miss healthcare appointments due to cost or other reasons — with a third reporting their health worsened as a result, according to a new survey by health policy research group KFF.…
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Key points
- A KFF survey of 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults found that 60% missed needed medical care in the past year, compared to 38% of non-LGBTQ+ adults.
- Thirty percent of LGBTQ+ adults reported their health worsened due to delayed or skipped care, with transgender individuals reporting the highest rate at 45%.
- Cost barriers were significant, with 22% skipping prescriptions and 32% facing insurance coverage denials.
NewsWK — Accessing affordable and timely medical care remains a steep challenge for many residents across Southern Vermont and the neighboring border regions of New York and Massachusetts. A national study by health policy research organization KFF reveals that LGBTQ+ adults are substantially more likely than non-LGBTQ+ peers to skip needed medical visits, struggle with bills, and experience declining health as a consequence.
According to the findings, six in 10 LGBTQ+ adults reported missing necessary healthcare over the previous 12 months. Primary obstacles included high out-of-pocket costs and difficulty finding providers with available appointment openings.
Why it matters: Rural healthcare access Southern Vermont
In rural communities throughout Bennington County, from Manchester down through Pownal, finding timely primary care and specialized services is already an ongoing concern for many households. Regional residents frequently travel across county or state lines into Berkshire County or Rensselaer County to see specialists or secure clinical appointments.
When systemic barriers such as financial strain or insurance denials are added to rural healthcare shortages, community members are placed at an elevated risk of delaying treatment. For local healthcare clinics, community support groups, and regional networks, understanding these gaps is essential for improving overall public health delivery.
LGBTQ healthcare disparities in care delays and health impacts
The research, which surveyed 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults across the country, documented distinct disparities in both access and personal health outcomes. Among the key data points highlighted in the report:
- Overall, 60% of LGBTQ+ adults missed needed care in the past year, compared to 38% of non-LGBTQ+ adults.
- Three in 10 LGBTQ+ respondents reported that their physical health worsened specifically because they postponed or skipped necessary care. That rate is nearly double the figure seen among other adults.
- Transgender adults experienced some of the sharpest challenges, with 45% reporting deteriorated health due to delayed or missed visits.
- Disparities were also notable across gender lines, with 63% of LGBTQ+ women reporting missed care compared to 46% of LGBTQ+ men.
For individuals without health coverage, the barriers proved almost universal. More than three-quarters of uninsured LGBTQ+ adults reported going without essential medical services during the year.
Prescription costs and insurance hurdles
Financial strains on LGBTQ healthcare access
Managing ongoing medical needs also presented significant financial friction. The survey found that 22% of LGBTQ+ adults went without prescribed medications due to expense, compared to 12% among non-LGBTQ+ adults.
In addition, nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ respondents, or 30%, reported having difficulty paying their medical bills, compared to approximately 20% of other adults. Even having health insurance did not entirely shield patients from access hurdles.
About 32% of insured LGBTQ+ adults reported that their insurance companies denied coverage for specific services, compared to just over one-fifth of non-LGBTQ+ insured adults. Delays and denials for prescriptions, treatments, and general care were especially prominent among transgender individuals, as well as those enrolled in Medicaid or self-purchased individual insurance plans.
Age differences and socioeconomic factors
The report highlighted clear differences across various age demographics. Younger generations reported the most acute problems securing care.
LGBTQ+ adults under age 30 were 20 percentage points more likely to report skipping or delaying medical care than non-LGBTQ+ peers in the same age bracket. By contrast, these disparities largely narrowed among adults age 65 and older, a trend researchers attributed to broad Medicare eligibility providing a more consistent safety net.
Researchers noted that the broader LGBTQ+ demographic skews younger, tends to earn lower average incomes, and is slightly more likely to lack health insurance coverage. While socioeconomic circumstances and identity-specific barriers are closely linked, these overlapping economic pressures play a decisive role in whether patients can afford treatment.
What to watch
As healthcare systems and community health organizations evaluate local delivery models in Southern Vermont and the tri-state area, addressing appointment availability, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage denials will remain central to closing these access gaps.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
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