Health care costs rank among the highest financial worries for U.S. adults, according to a recent health-tracking poll. About 26% of respondents say they are “very” worried about affording health care for themselves and their families, a level that matches concerns about gasoline and transportation.
Overall, 27% of adults express very high worry about fuel costs, while roughly one-in-five cite food, utilities or rent as “very” concerning. Health-related expenses sit alongside other essential household outlays, creating a broad sense of financial pressure across many budget categories.
When asked about the difficulty of covering medical bills, about 22% of U.S. adults say they had problems paying or were unable to pay medical bills in the past 12 months. The challenge is most acute for the uninsured, with 82% saying they struggle to meet these costs.
Cost barriers push people to skip needed care
In the past year, 28% of adults admitted they postponed or skipped needed health care because of price. The behavior is especially common among uninsured adults under 65, where the share climbs to 62%, as well as among young adults, women and Hispanic respondents.
Skipping care carries health repercussions. About 15% of all adults say their health worsened after delaying treatment, and the share rises sharply for those with multiple chronic conditions.
Compared with earlier surveys, the share of respondents delaying care has remained steady, suggesting that rising premiums and out-of-pocket charges have not eased the underlying pressure. The persistence of this pattern points to a systemic affordability gap rather than a temporary spike.
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Prescription-drug costs add another layer of strain. Roughly 43% of adults report not taking medication as prescribed in the last 12 months, with 31% substituting over-the-counter drugs, a sizable portion leaving prescriptions unfilled, and 19% cutting pills in half or skipping doses.
Financial strain beyond medical bills
Nearly one-fifth of adults reported problems paying medical bills during the past year.
About one-fourth said they reduced essential household spending to meet health costs.
Younger adults, women, Hispanic and Black respondents experience these challenges at higher rates.
Four-in-ten U.S. adults carry debt from medical or dental expenses.
Lower-income households, Black and Hispanic families, women and parents are disproportionately represented among those with health-care debt.
