Recent Survey Finds Millions in U.S. Can’t Afford Health Care

Americans’ costs for health care procedures and prescription drugs are among the highest in the world. Today, 1 in 4 adults struggle with out-of-pocket costs.

Those are the latest findings from a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund, a health care think tank.

High costs cause many people to skip filling their prescriptions and delay other needed care, even at the risk of causing their health problems to worsen.

“Millions of families across the U.S. can’t afford the care they need, including many who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease,” Dr. Joseph Betancourt, a primary care physician and president of the Commonwealth Fund, told Health Day News.

The survey was conducted between March and June 2024 and involved a representative sample of adults ages 18 to 64. Other findings included:

• 20% of those surveyed had been uninsured during the last year.
• 57% cited cost as the reason for not getting care.
• 2 in 5 of those who skipped care saw their health worsen as a result.
• 44% reported having medical debt.

Have you struggled with high health care costs? Share your story with Voices for Affordable Health.