Health care reforms to hurt poor people most: new research

The health care reform drops people into trouble, is the conclusion GroenLinks Parliamenterian Corinne Ellemeet drew from a survey by TNS Nipo. The survey was requested by GroenLinks and held among a representative group of people receiving long-term care, GroenLinks states on their website. The health care reform was implemented on January 1st this year. "The figures from TNS Nipo showed that people get into trouble when they can not pay more for their care and do not have family or friends who can help out. The promises of the government on better care are not met." Ellemeet said. According to the survey, almost half of the people who receive long-term care are facing higher costs from January 1st. A quarter of people stated that they receive less professional care and 10 percent could not continue living in their own home. Almost half of respondents indicated that their friends, family and neighbors could not provide the care they need, among people with lower incomes, the percentage rose to 61 percent. "These are alarming figures. The lowest incomes in particular suffer the painful effects of the billions cuts to health care. The right-wing austerity agenda has unjust consequences." Ellemeet said on the GroenLinks website.