Americans Face Significant Challenges with Health Care Costs, KFF Reports
April 30, 2026 — A recent update from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) highlights the ongoing financial challenges many Americans encounter regarding health care expenses. Drawing from extensive polling and research, the report underscores that nearly half of U.S. adults struggle to afford health care, with costs heavily influencing decisions about insurance coverage, care seeking, and medication adherence.
High Cost of Health Care: A Widespread Burden
KFF polling data reveals that just under 50% of adults in the United States find it difficult to pay for health care costs. About three in ten adults report that they or a family member experienced issues paying medical bills within the past year. The burden is not evenly distributed: Hispanic adults, young adults, and the uninsured disproportionately report these difficulties.
For example, 82% of uninsured adults under age 65 say affording health care is challenging, compared to 42% of insured adults. Additionally, Hispanic adults (55%) and Black adults (49%) are more likely to report trouble affording care than White adults (39%). Adults living in households earning less than $40,000 annually also report greater difficulty paying for health care.
Impact on Access to Needed Care
Rising costs lead many Americans to delay or skip necessary medical services. Approximately 36% of adults have postponed or avoided care due to cost concerns in the past 12 months. Among uninsured adults under 65, this figure jumps dramatically to 75%. Even those with insurance are not immune; around 37% of insured adults report skipping needed care because of expenses.
Women are somewhat more likely than men to forgo care for financial reasons (38% versus 32%). Older adults (65 and above), most of whom qualify for Medicare, are less likely to delay care due to costs. Unfortunately, skipping care can have serious health consequences: nearly 18% of adults report their health worsened after postponing medical services, with uninsured adults under 65 twice as likely to experience this decline compared to their insured peers.
The Burden of Medical Debt
Medical and dental debt remains a significant problem for American families. In 2022, about 41% of adults reported owing money related to health care bills, including debts managed through credit cards, collection agencies, or personal loans. Black and Hispanic adults, women, parents, low-income individuals, and those without insurance are disproportionately affected by medical debt.
KFF’s research also indicates that those currently in medical debt are more likely to skip or delay care. Fifty-one percent of adults with outstanding medical debt say that cost has prevented them from obtaining recommended medical tests or treatments within the last year.
Prescription Drug Costs Prompt Cost-Cutting Measures
Medication costs are another major concern. Around 43% of U.S. adults report cost-related medication non-adherence, including purchasing over-the-counter alternatives instead of prescriptions (31%), failing to fill prescriptions (27%), or cutting pills/skipping doses (19%). These behaviors are more common among lower-income individuals, uninsured adults, women, and Black and Hispanic populations.
Insurance Coverage Offers Some Relief But Not Complete Protection
While health insurance mitigates some cost concerns, many insured adults still face financial strain. Nearly four in ten insured adults under 65 worry about affording their monthly premiums, and substantial shares of those covered through employer-sponsored insurance or the Affordable Care Act marketplaces rate their insurance as only “fair” or “poor” with regard to costs.
Overall, about two-thirds of adults (64%) express worry about affording health care expenses—30% are very worried, while 34% are somewhat worried. Concerns span premiums, out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits, prescription medications, and other health services.
Conclusion
The KFF report paints a sobering picture of health care affordability in America. Despite widespread insurance coverage, health care costs remain a significant barrier for many, influencing decisions about seeking care and adherence to treatment. The data emphasize persistent disparities by ethnicity, income, age, and insurance status, underscoring the need for targeted policy solutions to improve affordability and access across the population.
About KFF
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) is an independent organization dedicated to health policy analysis, polling, and news. Its research informs public debates and policy decisions related to health care and insurance in the United States. This summary incorporates findings from recent KFF Health Tracking Polls conducted in 2025 and 2026, as well as previous reports on health care debt and prescription drug costs.