Kentucky Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey

Mirroring national trends, an alarming 72% of Kentucky adults report one or more healthcare affordability problems. These range from not being able to afford health insurance; delaying or foregoing healthcare (55%) to struggling to pay their medical bills (57%). One-quarter of all adults in Kentucky report being contacted by a collection agency about their medical bills, according to results from a survey of more than 900 Kentucky adults conducted by Altarum's Healthcare Value Hub.

Altarum’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey (CHESS) is designed to elicit respondents’ unbiased views on a wide range of health system issues, including confidence using the health system, financial burden and views on fixes that might be needed.

Below are Data Briefs with statewide and regional survey results.

Data Briefs

Statewide

• Kentucky Residents Struggle to Afford High Healthcare Costs; Express Bipartisan Support for a Range of Government Solutions
• Difficulty Understanding Cost Obligations Adds to Healthcare Affordability Woes in Kentucky
• Many Privately-Insured Kentuckians Receive Unexpected Medical Bills; Nearly One-Quarter Unhappy with Resolution, may not Understand Options for Assistance

Regional Reports

• Eastern Kentucky: 80% of Residents Experienced Health Affordability Burdens in the Past Year
• Lexington/Bluegrass: 72% of Residents Experienced Health Affordability Burdens in the Past Year
• Northern Kentucky: 68% of Residents Experienced Health Affordability Burdens in the Past Year
• Louisville Metro: 64% of Residents Experienced Health Affordability Burdens in the Past Year
• Western Kentucky: 72% of Residents Experienced Health Affordability Burdens in the Past Year

Methodology 

Altarum’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey (CHESS) is designed to elicit respondents’ unbiased views on a wide range of health system issues, including confidence using the health system, financial burden and views on fixes that might be needed. 

The survey used a web panel from SSI Research Now with a demographically balanced sample of approximately 1,000 respondents who live in Kentucky. The survey was conducted only in English and restricted to adults ages 18 and older. Respondents who finished the survey in less than half the median time were excluded from the final sample, leaving 924 cases for analysis. After those exclusions, the demographic composition of respondents can be found in the table below. Additional information on the survey instrument is available upon request by emailing hubinfo@altarum.org.