In three online experiments, adults who would have to pay for a procedure out of pocket were less likely to schedule it, and the anxiety the cost caused raised the pain they expected.
Unfilled prescriptions and skipped referrals often reflect hidden logistical, financial and emotional work, not a lack of motivation. A behavioral scientist explains where patients drop off and how practices can close the gap in the first days after a recommendation.
Prescription abandonment climbs sharply as out-of-pocket costs rise, and prior authorization delays push more patients away. Showing cost and coverage at the point of prescribing could change whether patients ever start therapy.