A recent study reveals that over one-third of Americans, approximately 91 million people, cannot afford quality health care, with significantly higher rates among Black (46%) and Hispanic (52%) populations. Access to health care has remained stable for wealthier individuals but has drastically declined for those with lower incomes.
A new study highlights a concerning rise in the inability to afford healthcare in the United States, revealing that over one-third of Americans—approximately 91 million people—cannot access quality healthcare if needed. The West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index reports that the number of individuals struggling to pay for healthcare has reached alarming levels, with urgent policy action required at both state and federal levels. Tim Lash, president of the West Health Policy Center, stresses that without intervention, more Americans will face tough choices between healthcare and other essential expenses, leading to significant human and economic repercussions.
The survey indicates that 35% of Americans overall cannot afford quality healthcare, with particularly high rates among minority communities: 46% of Black Americans and 52% of Hispanic Americans report similar challenges. While access remains stable for wealthier individuals, lower-income households are experiencing significant declines. Roughly 64% of those earning under $24,000 reported an inability to afford healthcare, marking an 11-point increase from the previous year, with 57% of households earning between $24,000 and $48,000 also struggling.
The study finds that only about half (51%) of Americans are “cost secure,” facing no recent difficulties affording healthcare or prescriptions—the lowest level since the index began tracking in 2021. Notably, Hispanic Americans have seen the greatest decline in healthcare affordability, while Black Americans have also faced significant challenges.
According to Dan Witters, a senior researcher at Gallup, the deteriorating landscape of healthcare access especially affects Black, Hispanic, and lower-income adults, with white adults and those from higher-income households remaining largely insulated from these trends. The survey, conducted among 6,296 respondents from across the country, underscores the widening gap in healthcare access and the urgent need for solutions to this growing crisis.
