( CNN ) -- Americans are forgoing medical attention in the face of high health-care costs , a new consumer health survey has found . The high cost of medical care and treatment has some sick people opting out of treatment , a survey finds . Specifically , 24 percent of people polled in the 2009 Deloitte Survey of Health Care Consumers decided not to seek medical care when they were sick or injured . The largest subgroups were those who were uninsured ( 36 percent ) , and those between ages 28 and 44 , referred to as `` Gen Y '' respondents in the survey ( 37 percent ) . Two-fifths of the people who did n't see a doctor when they needed one did so because of the high cost of care . They either did n't have medical insurance coverage or they perceived the cost of such care to be excessive , according to the survey , which was released early Tuesday to CNN by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions , a nonpartisan , independent research center . `` Costs are impacting the system , and it 's changing how we respond to our health care , '' said Paul Keckley , executive director of the center . In addition to data about how many Americans fail to seek necessary medical care because of high costs , another theme that emerged in the survey focused on consumers ' dissatisfaction with the nation 's health-care system : . • 94 percent of respondents said they believe health-care costs threaten their own financial security . • More than half said they think 50 percent or more of the money spent by Americans on health care is a waste . • Only 6 percent indicated their own family is totally prepared to shoulder the financial burden they expect to face . Not only are Americans putting off health care and facing increasing dissatisfaction , they are also shopping around for better deals on doctors ' fees , prescription medication prices or health insurance plans to cut costs , according to the survey . There has been a lot of perceived loyalty and commitment in health care , Keckley said , and many providers think patients will stay with them . `` This study suggests that people really do n't [ stay ] , '' Keckley added . `` And that 's surprising . '' Despite the desire to shop around and gather more information to make improved decisions about their health-care choices , the abundance of options also can be baffling , says Kathleen Stoll , deputy director of Families USA . The group is a nonprofit , nonpartisan health care advocacy organization that regularly advises consumers on choosing insurance coverage plans . `` People weigh the costs of deductibles versus premiums , and these options can be confusing . They are asking themselves , 'What is it that I can afford in the family budget ? ' I sense a lot of people feeling unnerved by having to choose less [ insurance ] coverage because that 's all they can afford , '' Stoll told CNN . The survey also underscored Americans ' receptiveness to innovations that potentially lower costs and offer greater convenience , pointing toward growing preferences for options such as retail walk-in primary care clinics in drug stores , medical tourism ( high-quality , relatively inexpensive medical procedures obtained abroad ) and Web-based medical services ( often referred to as e-visits ) . Sampling a nationally representative group of more than 4,000 adults using a Web-based questionnaire , the survey was funded by the center 's parent company , Deloitte LLP , which has a wide range of clients in the health care industry . The center released its first version of the annual survey results in 2008 . Last month , the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation released its own health-care survey findings , with even greater numbers reflecting cutbacks in spending on medical services and treatments . According to the report , more than half of American households scaled back health-care spending in the previous 12 months before the survey , which was conducted in early February . Families relied on home remedies and over-the-counter medications instead of going to the doctor about 35 percent of the time , and they skipped visits to the dentist 34 percent of the time .
Survey finds 24 % of people skip medical care when they 're sick or injured . Largest groups affected by high prices : uninsured and people between 28 and 44 . The Survey also finds people shopping around for best care . Other trends : walk - in clinics in drug stores and medical tourism in cheaper nations .