Millions of Americans are choosing to retire without having to go to the doctor, with many opting for online retirement plans and even some people doing it themselves.
But some are still waiting for a prescription to get the medical treatment they need to save for their long-term health, and a new survey finds many are being left frustrated and frustrated.
The National Association of Retired Persons released a survey Wednesday that found only 11 percent of Americans surveyed said they had received a prescription for medical treatment and only 6 percent said they were receiving the medication they needed.
And even among those who were getting the prescription, the survey found, a quarter of them were still waiting at least three months for treatment.
“It’s a very discouraging state of affairs for many people,” said Nancy Wray, president and CEO of the association.
“Many of us are doing this because we are concerned about our health.”
The survey also found that more than one in five Americans are not receiving their medical treatment, and about two in three are receiving less than the prescribed dose of medication.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of people who need help,” Wray said.
“But when you start to go through the hassle of paying the bills, it becomes very frustrating.”
Many people say they feel left out, but the association is working with the government and health insurers to help those people.
“We’re really hoping that the federal government will be able to help with this,” Wary said.
The association has launched an online portal that allows anyone to find out if they need help with their prescription.
For those who have yet to get their prescription filled, it will be available on the group’s website for a period of two months.
The survey asked more than 4,000 Americans how they were feeling after a month of not getting the medical treatments they need.
More than one-third said they felt “very” or “fairly” frustrated, with the other two-thirds saying they were not at all or not at worst not at their lowest level.
Nearly half of respondents said they have not had their doctor since they got their prescription, and nearly a quarter said they don’t know what to do.
More than a quarter, or 23 percent, said they did not want to go back to the office because they have to wait for treatment or have to take time off work to receive care.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
