Design Highlights
- The “Cost Secure” rate among U.S. adults dropped from 61% to 49%, indicating a significant decline in affordability.
- Approximately 35% of adults struggle to pay for healthcare, affecting around 91 million people.
- 11% of adults are classified as “Cost Desperate,” unable to access necessary healthcare services.
- Disparities exist, with 41% of Hispanic adults and nearly 40% of those aged 18–29 reporting trouble affording care.
- Medical debt affects 41% of adults, leading to increased anxiety and barriers to accessing quality healthcare.
In a world where healthcare should be a right, not a luxury, the numbers tell a different story. A staggering 49% of U.S. adults now find themselves classified as “Cost Secure,” which sounds reassuring until you realize that’s a drop from 61% just last year. That’s a 12-point plunge. So, what does this mean? Nearly half of Americans can’t afford quality healthcare anymore. Talk about a reality check.
Nearly half of Americans can’t afford quality healthcare anymore—a staggering 12-point drop in just one year.
The West Health-Gallup Affordability Index reveals the ugly truth: 35% of adults—around 91 million people—struggle to pay for healthcare. That’s right. Millions are left in the lurch. And let’s not forget the “Cost Desperate” crowd—11% of adults, or almost 29 million people, who can’t even access the care they need. It’s like a bad joke, but unfortunately, it’s no laughing matter.
Then there’s the troublesome statistic that 28% of adults reported having trouble paying for healthcare in the past year. Among Hispanic adults, that number jumps to 41%. Oh, and if you’re between 18 and 29? You’re looking at a staggering 40%. The decline in affordability is particularly pronounced among younger adults, with only about one-third considered cost-secure in this age group.
Cost pressures are so intense that people are actually putting off necessary care. You read that right—1 in 6 adults avoided needed healthcare because they simply couldn’t afford it. This is America, folks. Uninsured adults under 65 are particularly affected, with 75% reporting they went without needed care due to cost.
And medical debt? It’s the cherry on top of this financial disaster. In 2022, 41% of adults reported having medical or dental debt. That’s not just chump change. This debt often comes from credit cards, collections agencies, or loans. It hits hard, especially for Black adults, Hispanic adults, and low-income families. The Commonwealth Fund even found that 32% of working-age Americans are buried under medical debt. Making matters worse, hospital consolidation reduces competition, driving up the cost of care and leaving patients with fewer affordable options.
As if that weren’t enough, two-thirds of adults worry about future healthcare costs. That’s right, nearly everyone is stressed about affording care for themselves and their families. The anxiety is palpable. About 20% of people couldn’t afford prescription medications in the last three months. It’s a cycle of worry, debt, and missed care that spirals into worse health outcomes.
