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There's a chance you've already heard chatter about this, but folks: The economy isn't doing so hot. People all over the country are feeling the effects and reigning in their spending, and it's not just new homes and fancy cars being dropped from budgets.

The number of people skimping on health care -- going without prescriptions, skipping doctor visits or using retirement savings to pay for medical bills -- has gone way up over the last year, and the amount of prescriptions being filled is trending downward for the first time in over a decade.

Docs Considered a "Luxury"
A survey by the Rockefeller Foundation and Time magazine found that 25 percent of respondents didn't see a doctor because of financial concerns in 2008, an increase of almost 10 percent since last year. It's tough to imagine classifying any health-care expense as a "luxury," but many Americans are now having to do just that.

Inadequate (or nonexistent) health insurance policies also play a part in the medical care crunch. In the past, "health care was immune [to recessions] ... because most people were covered under good insurance plans," Georgetown public policy professor Jean Mitchell told the Washington Post. Now, she says, "people are realizing, 'Oh my gosh, I have to pay for this out of pocket.'"

Real-Life Examples
When Jennifer C., a 24-year-old educator from Brookline, Mass., recently started taking birth control again, she went for the least expensive option. "I used to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, which is expensive. My generic brand now only costs me $10." While she's relieved to save money, Jennifer feels "that the quality of drug isn't the same."

For Sara D., a student and hostess from Gloucester, Mass., this is exactly the case. "I definitely don't go to the dentist, since I don't have dental insurance," she says. "I've been putting off getting my wisdom teeth removed for a couple of years now." And with the way the economy currently looks, those wisdom teeth might just stay put for another few years.

Tell us: Are you making any health-care sacrifices because of tightening finances?

Also on Lemondrop ... Read about the most common money mistakes even smart women make.

Ten Dumbest Money Mistakes

    1. Being Ashamed to Invest Small Amounts With this attitude, you'll never save anything. What is small to one investor may be huge to another. Solution: Begin saving something from your next paycheck. The dollar amount is not important. Developing the habit of saving is.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    Ms L, Flickr

    2. Having Inadequate Emergency Savings Without this nest egg you could wind up deeply in debt. Solution: Stash three to six months' worth of living expenses in a money market fund or bank CD.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    Malingering, Flickr

    Leaving Cash in a Bank Savings AccountThe interest rate is far too low. Solution: Move it immediately to a money market fund, money market deposit account, or online bank.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    nicora, Flickr

    Operating Too Many Accounts If you have several bank accounts, a number of mutual funds, and brokerage accounts, you're spending too much on service fees. And it's way too difficult to keep track of rates, prices, and other details. Solution: Consolidate. Have one checking account, two or three mutual funds, and one brokerage account.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    trp0, Flickr

    Confusing Income with Appreciation If you don't know what an investment is for, you're likely to hold or sell the wrong thing. Do not expect growth stocks and growth mutual funds to pay high dividends or income. Do not expect CDs or bonds to rise in price.Solution: Read up on these.


    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    phantom kitty, Flickr

    Avoiding Financial Goal Setting Yogi Berra said it best: "If you don't know where you're going, you're probably going to wind up someplace else." Most people devote more time planning their vacations than their financial future. Consequently, they spend as much or more on cruises, airline tickets, and hotels than they do funding their retirement accounts or building up a nest egg. Solution: Set just one or two specific goals. Write them down and discuss them with a stockbroker or financial adviser.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    ClintJCL, Flickr

    Failing to Diversify It's tempting to put all your money in one place because it's convenient and easy. No investment is ever sufficiently profitable or safe to justify this lazy approach. Solution: Divide your assets among CDs, money market funds, stocks, bonds, Treasuries, and real estate.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    dashananda, Flickr

    Procrastinating Most of us put off making financial decisions because we're afraid we'll do the wrong thing. Solution: Set time deadlines and take several small, easy investment steps, one at a time. For example, if you have $3,000 on hand in week number one, put one-third into a money market fund. The next week, buy a bank CD. The following week, use the remaining amount to buy shares of a blue chip mutual fund.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    jetalone, Flickr

    Ignoring Savings Plans at Work Tax-deferred 401(k) or stock purchase plans are good deals, especially if your company matches your contribution. So are automatic EE Savings Bond programs. Solution: Talk to your benefits officer this Monday.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    Ms L, Flickr

    Failing to Have a Will IF you care about the other people in your life, keep an updated will.Solution: Call your lawyer this week.

    From "How to Invest $50-$100" by Nancy Dunnan, ©2007, Collins.

    sean dreilinger, Flickr


More hot-button health news -- click below to see some of the biggest health controversies we've covered on Lemondrop, then weigh in with your comments.

Hot Health Debates on Lemondrop

    Gardasil: A Waste or Worth It?

    Tons of controversies swirling around Gardasil, the vaccination against four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. Should the vaccine be mandatory? Does it really work? Will it kill you? A report came out in June that shows there have been 9,749 adverse reactions and 21 deaths possibly due to the vaccination...

    Gardasil: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Peretzpup, Flickr

    Could Splenda Cause Weight Gain?

    And another sweetener bites the dust -- Duke University scientists just published research on the health detriments of the guilt-free sweetness that is Splenda: Besides contributing to obesity, it damages "good" intestinal bacteria and inhibits the absorption of prescription drugs...

    Splenda Controversy: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Bitzcelt, Flickr

    Why Skinny Celebs Still Scare Us

    Everyone's talking about the skinny (or too skinny?) stars of the new "90210" and the damaging influence they may have on young viewers. But it shouldn't affect us, right? We're smart, healthy, professional woman, and we know that being 90 lbs. is not the recipe for self-satisfaction. So why do the stars still make us feel so ... well ... big?

    Skinny Celebs: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Getty Images/Bryan Bedder

    100 Calorie Packs: Diet Tool or Sneakily Fattening?

    At first, those 100-calorie snack packs seemed like the answer to our prayers: The same treats we'd always loved, in portion (and guilt!) controlled sizes. How could we go wrong? But sadly, two recent studies say we most certainly could go wrong...

    100 Calorie Packs: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Flickr, Blondie5000

    To Tan or Not To Tan?

    New ammunition for the anti-tanning squad: Three recent studies say there's no such thing as a safe or healthy tan. The authors are calling for a ban on tanning beds for those under 18, as well as advertising limitations...

    Fake Tanning: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    AP

    Is Organic Actually "Better?"

    At this point, it's safe to say that our culture has officially gone green. "Organic" product labels are everywhere, from the grocery store to the cosmetics counter. But as this marketing campaign spreads to everyday nomenclature, do we average consumers even know what organic means? Or has it simply seeped into our minds as being synonymous with "better"?

    Organics: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Kraft

    Martinis in the Maternity Ward?

    Think that's the glow of impending motherhood on the cheeks of that mom-to-be? Think again -- it might just be intoxication. A recent British survey found that one-third of the 1,300 women interviewed tippled during their pregnancies. What's more, the same percentage couldn't say how much alcohol was recommended as the maximum...

    Drinking During Pregnancy: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Brett L., Flickr

    Cosmetic Vaginal Surgery

    At a recent OB/GYN conference, an expert spoke out against the rise in cosmetic vaginal surgery. Professor Linda Cardozo says that ads and media coverage have increased the demand for these procedures and that not enough studies have been done regarding their safety...

    Vaginal Surgery: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Moncaeu, Flicrk

    Plastic Surgery for Back Fat

    The exhaustive mission to remodel every inch of the human body is one step closer to completion! The American Society of Plastic Surgeons announced that 20 women have gone under the knife for a new "bra-line back lift" procedure that eliminates back fat. The one-hour operation totally removes "dreaded back fat rolls and lumps..."

    Back Fat Surgery: Get the whole story on Lemondrop

    Karlfrankowski, Flickr