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March 13, 2026
WASHINGTON — A deepening affordability crisis has forced approximately one-third of U.S. adults to cut back on essential needs—including food, utilities, and clothing—to cover the rising cost of medical care over the past year. According to a landmark survey released Thursday by the West Health-Gallup Center, the financial strain of healthcare has reached a critical tipping point. The study, which polled nearly 20,000 adults across all 50 states between June and August 2025, reveals that even those with private insurance are increasingly unable to shield themselves from escalating premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
A Nation Making Painful Trade-offs
The findings from the West Health-Gallup survey paint a stark picture of the American domestic budget. Researchers found that 33% of all respondents made at least one significant financial sacrifice in their daily spending to stay current with healthcare bills in 2025.
While the burden is heaviest on the uninsured—62% of whom reported cutting back on essentials—the “insured but under-insured” population is rapidly growing. Nearly 30% of Americans with health insurance still had to reduce spending on food or heat to pay for care. For many, the sacrifices went beyond monthly budgeting:
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Medical Debt: 32% of uninsured adults reported borrowing money to pay for care.
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Prescription Rationing: 24% of the uninsured admitted to “stretching” prescriptions by skipping doses or splitting pills.
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Life Milestones: A follow-up survey of 5,660 adults conducted late last year found that 9% of Americans delayed retirement, and 18% postponed changing jobs specifically due to healthcare cost concerns.
“We are seeing a record number of Americans—roughly 91 million people—who say they could not afford quality care if they needed it today,” says Timothy Lash, President of the West Health Policy Center. “The 2025 Healthcare Affordability Index shows that these costs are hitting low-income households (64%) and communities of color (52% of Hispanic and 46% of Black households) with devastating precision.”
The Perfect Storm: Premiums, Policy, and Inflation
Several economic factors converged in 2025 to create this “affordability trap.” According to the KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation) Employer Health Benefits Survey, the average cost of an employer-sponsored family plan climbed to $26,993, a 6% increase that significantly outpaced both wage growth (4%) and general inflation (2.7%).
The crisis was further exacerbated by the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies at the end of 2025. These subsidies, which had provided a financial cushion for millions of middle-class families, vanished just as medical providers hiked prices to account for labor shortages and the rising cost of specialized treatments, such as GLP-1 medications for diabetes and weight loss.
“The public is experiencing significant anxiety regarding access to affordable healthcare,” notes Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University specializing in health law. Gostin, who was not involved in the West Health study, warns that the lapse in subsidies combined with ongoing Medicaid “unwinding”—the process of removing ineligible people from state rolls post-pandemic—has left millions in a state of precariousness.
Public Health Implications: A Sicklier Society
Medical experts warn that when patients sacrifice food for medicine, or skip screenings to pay the electric bill, the long-term public health consequences are severe. The Nationwide Retirement Institute recently found that significant percentages of insured adults are now skipping:
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Dental care (23%)
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Vision care (20%)
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Mental health services (16%)
By avoiding preventive care, patients often end up in emergency rooms with advanced, more expensive conditions later. “We’re not getting healthier as a society; we’re actually getting sicker,” Lash observed, citing higher reported incidences of metabolic disease, depression, and anxiety linked to financial stress and deferred care.
Navigating the Crisis: Practical Steps for Consumers
While systemic policy changes remain a subject of intense debate in Washington, health advocates suggest several strategies for individuals navigating high costs:
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Re-evaluate Marketplace Plans: During open enrollment, use Healthcare.gov to check for updated subsidy eligibility. Some states have introduced local credits to offset federal expirations.
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Utilize “Free” Preventive Care: Under the ACA, many screenings (mammograms, cholesterol checks, vaccinations) remain available with no co-pay. Prioritizing these can prevent costly complications.
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Negotiate and Shop Around: Use tools like GoodRx for prescription discounts and always ask for generic alternatives. For hospital bills, ask for an itemized statement and inquire about “charity care” programs, which many non-profit hospitals are legally required to offer for those under certain income thresholds.
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Community Resources: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer primary care on a sliding fee scale based on income, regardless of insurance status.
Limitations and Counterarguments
It is important to note that the West Health-Gallup data relies on self-reported surveys. While the sample size of 20,000 is robust, self-reporting can sometimes be subject to “recall bias,” where respondents may over- or under-estimate their spending habits based on recent emotional stress.
Furthermore, some market economists argue that high-deductible plans are designed to make consumers “cost-conscious,” theoretically driving down overall healthcare prices through competition. However, critics like the Lown Institute argue that this model fails when the “consumer” cannot afford the entry price of a basic doctor’s visit, leading to a breakdown in systemic stability.
“Across the country, people are telling us the same thing: healthcare feels more expensive, harder to navigate, and increasingly out of reach,” says Natalie Davis, CEO of United States of Care. “This isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a fundamental barrier to living a productive life.”
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/one-third-americans-cut-back-other-expenses-cover-healthcare-2025-survey-shows-2026-03-12/
