In terrible news for the nation, U.S. adults are facing a harsh reality as health care costs skyrocket, making it increasingly difficult for many to afford basic medical services.
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A recent Gallup report shows that a staggering number of Americans are struggling to pay for health care, forcing urgent questions about the effectiveness of current policies.
In 2023, healthcare spending in the U.S. ballooned to $4.9 trillion, or roughly $14,570 per person, yet over a third of U.S. adults, approximately 91 million people, cannot access quality healthcare when needed.
Despite the promise of universal coverage, about 26 million still remain uninsured out of the total 305 million who do have health insurance.
These numbers, taken from detailed Gallup surveys, suggest a glaring failure in policy implementation and allocation of resources.
Shocking disparities reveal themselves when income and racial demographics are considered.
Hispanic Americans are the most impacted, with 52% unable to afford quality healthcare.
Meanwhile, black Americans follow closely behind with 46% struggling to pay medical bills.
The numbers underscore an urgent need for policy changes that address these racial and economic inequalities.
Another troubling statistic is that four in ten adults carry debt from unpaid medical or dental bills, with over 70 million avoiding doctor visits due to high costs.
This stark reality contributes to a rise in “cost desperate” individuals—a record 11% of U.S. adults, or about 29 million, fitting this category.
For those earning less than $24,000 annually, only 23% now find themselves cost secure, a 14-point drop since 2021.
Hispanic adults saw the greatest decline in financial security, dropping 17 points to just 34%.
Disparities based on race, ethnicity, and income levels are now at their highest since records began, sounding alarm bells about the gap between those who can and cannot afford critical healthcare services.
As Gallup researcher Dan Witters put it, “Healthcare affordability and access continue to erode nationally, and this issue is especially acute among black, Hispanic, and lower-income adults.”
Medicinal inflation, drug shortages, and a decline in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment are fueling this crisis further.
Tim Lash of West Health Policy Center highlighted the dire trend: “The rising trajectory in the inability to pay for healthcare is a disturbing trend likely to continue and even accelerate.”
A whopping 12% of adults have borrowed money to cover healthcare costs in 2024, amassing an estimated $74 billion in debt.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with current health policies, it is clear the system is failing a significant portion of the American population.
A decisive call for legislative changes is unavoidable if we wish to stem this alarming tide.
As the numbers reveal, nearly 60% of Americans are concerned about going into debt due to a major medical event.
This Gallup report should serve as a wake-up call to reexamine and revamp our healthcare strategies.
A new Gallup study shows a record number of Americans—especially lower-income, Black, and Hispanic adults—are unable to pay for needed healthcare or medication, revealing deepening disparities. https://t.co/URvd0hs9aW
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) April 2, 2025
