Healthcare Affordability in U.S. Hits New Low as Only Half of Adults Can Afford Quality Care

A new poll shows that healthcare affordability in the United States has declined significantly, with only about half of American adults able to afford high-quality healthcare and access quality care. According to the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, 49% of U.S. adults were considered "cost secure" in 2025—meaning they had access to affordable, high-quality care and could recently afford the medicine and services they needed. This represents a decline from 56% in 2021 and a peak of 61% in 2022, indicating a sustained downward trend over the past several years.

Concerns about affording healthcare reached record levels as 2025 ended. About half of survey respondents reported being "extremely concerned" or "concerned" that their household would be unable to pay for needed healthcare services in 2026, up from 42% in 2022. Meanwhile, roughly three-quarters of Americans said healthcare costs were a "major" or "minor" financial burden for them and their family, with only about 30% saying costs were not a burden at all. More than half reported that healthcare costs contribute significantly to daily stress.

Real Americans are experiencing the strain firsthand. Twannetta Weaver, 43, from Sanford, Florida, enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan through her employer to avoid high premiums and save for retirement. However, when she slipped a disk in her back in 2025, requiring medication and physical therapy, the medical bills became overwhelming and forced her to delay her graduation by a year. Similarly, Inger Perez, 59, from Encino, Texas, expressed deep anxiety about potential medical costs stemming from her family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer, saying she was "terrified" that she wouldn't be able to afford continued treatment once she received test results.

The survey, conducted from October to December 2025, gathered data before major policy changes took effect, including Congress' Medicaid cuts and its decision not to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. These findings underscore how America's healthcare system is straining citizens at a time when inflation is driving high costs and affordability concerns are top of mind. The decline in healthcare affordability is occurring across multiple demographic groups, including younger adults, older adults, and women, signaling a widespread challenge that extends beyond any single population segment.