Unemployment is causing people to rush or delay surgeries

The NY Times has produced a very good story that covers what the unemployment crisis in America is doing regarding people's health care.

Some people are are scrambling to schedule medical procedures prior to losing their jobs---While others are delaying/canceling elective surgery---even if they are still working.

Eye Doctors have seen a 5% reduction in corrective eye-surgery, and plastic surgeons have seen over a 30% reduction in business. In the past, spending a few thousand dollars on a nose job competed with other discretionary spending (like vacations)... Now such procedures are competing with keeping up with the mortgage payments and establishing a few months worth of cash as a "safety net".