All across Western Pennsylvania, the financial pressure is gripping tight. The gas pump, the grocery checkout, the tax bill. You name it, it’s getting harder to handle.
But how does anyone know where the most pressure is felt? By asking.
The most recent Quinnipiac University poll had 65% of respondents rating the economy as poor or “not so good,” with 18% saying they are falling behind. While people grumble about grocery prices online and share pictures on social media of rising numbers on gas station signs, those aren’t the top stressor. The poll found 13% pointed to health care costs, tied with housing — mortgage and rent — while gas came in at 11%.
But that’s a national poll. How does it hit closer to home?
The numbers were higher for the 469 people who responded to the Voice of Westmoreland survey.
Food was considerably higher, with 44% naming it a daily worry. Housing was right behind at 35%. Gas wasn’t one of the five expenses included.
But at the top of the heap were health care expenses — tied with utilities at 55%.
This is a smaller sample size, but it is notable as a local concern. It reflects how health care costs loom in the minds of people who live in the backyard of some of the best medical facilities in the country — and fear the price of the lifesaving care they provide.
Utility bills can be just as scary. Pennsylvania had sharp cold and deep snows this year, which can translate to higher heating and electrical costs. That’s without higher prices — and the prices went up.
Like an unexpected illness or accident that sends you to the doctor or emergency room, a sudden increase in utility costs is the kind of thing that is hard to predict. It is just as hard to fight.
Voice of Westmoreland intends to take this information to the county commissioners. However, these are not problems the county can do much about.
They are concerns that go beyond the Westmoreland County Courthouse — and require action higher up.
State and federal authorities need to take notice of how their decisions trickle downstream, straining not just individuals but the system itself.
New census data shows the Pittsburgh region’s population continuing to slide, with more deaths than births. If people are afraid of hospital bills, that seems unlikely to improve.
It’s not an irrational fear. Health policy organization KFF estimates about 41% of Americans carry medical debt — a number that reached $220 billion in 2022. Health-related bills are the largest contributor to bankruptcy for those who can afford to file.
The gas pump and the grocery receipts may be what people grumble about, but they are costs that come with options. Car pools and bus rides can reduce demand for gas. Ingredient swaps and cheaper stores can help put a filling meal on the table.
But what people fear are the bills they don’t choose — and can’t avoid.
