HCFO Grantee Quoted in New York Times Article "Bad Economy Leads Patients to Put Off Surgery, or Rush It."

David Dranove, Ph.D., professor at Northwestern University, was quoted in the March 14 New York Times article, “Bad Economy Leads Patients to Put Off Surgery, or Rush It.” [1] The article discusses how individuals are delaying elective procedures as a result of the economic downturn. Dr. Dranove states, “During good economic times, the trade-offs aren’t as severe. It’s that $2,000 for elective surgery versus that vacation in Cancun. Now it’s $2,000 for surgery versus making the mortgage payments, and suddenly the surgery can wait.” Dr. Dranove is completing HCFO-sponsored work examining how insurance status affects personal wealth and earnings in the population nearing age 65 that have a heightened probability of adverse health but have not yet qualified for Medicare.