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Health Care Costs Are Pushing Millions of Americans to Delay Treatment and Change How They Take Prescriptions
More than 130 people told KFF Health News they delayed care or took on debt as premiums, deductibles and bills kept climbing.
- Rising healthcare costs are driving Americans to delay essential medical treatment or accumulate significant debt, with nearly 28% of adults skipping or postponing needed care over the past 12 months due to financial constraints.
- Overall health spending reached nearly $5.3 trillion in 2024, escalating at a dizzying pace as clinical prices and utilization increased. Experts project these costs will consume 20% of the nation's gross domestic product by 2032, up from just under 19% today.
- Financial strain affects both insured and uninsured households, with about 30% of insured adults aged 18 to 64 reporting delayed care. Many patients face out-of-pocket costs like $10,000 deductibles or monthly premiums climbing to $1,000.
- Households facing medical debt are rationing medications, cutting back on essentials, or experiencing wage garnishment. About 43% of adults reported changing how they took prescribed medication to save money, including skipping doses or switching to over-the-counter alternatives.
- Insurers expect to hike ACA marketplace premiums by 15% next year, marking the second consecutive year of double-digit increases. The Congressional Budget Office projects the number of uninsured Americans could grow by 10 million or more by 2034 due to policy changes.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Rising healthcare costs are pushing people to forgo medicine and doctor visits
Rising healthcare costs are upending the lives of Americans. People are forgoing insurance, rationing medications, and putting off procedures. Bringing the costs down won’t be easy.
·Philadelphia, United States
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KFF Health News+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
The Cost of Healthcare Is Hitting America Where It Hurts: The Wallet
Rising healthcare costs are upending the lives of Americans. People are forgoing health insurance, rationing medications, cutting back on doctor visits, and putting off health procedures they can’t afford. But bringing the costs down won’t be easy.
·San Francisco, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 44%
Factuality
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