Close-up of examination table in doctor’s officeGrace Cary/Getty Images
Less than 49% of U.S. citizens can manage healthcare expenses, marking the lowest figure since tracking commenced in 2021, as per Gallup data unveiled on Thursday.
Within a year, approximately 2.8 million individuals no longer considered themselves “Cost Secure,” signifying their inability to afford medical access, treatments, or prescription drugs, according to the figures. Concerns regarding future medical expenditures, encompassing appointments and medications, among Americans have also reached an unprecedented high, exceeding 40%, according to Gallup.
Gallup introduced its “Healthcare Affordability Index” in 2021, backed by West Health, utilizing self-reported data from national surveys. The most recent findings stem from a study conducted between October and December of 2025, as reported by Gallup and West Health.
Close-up of examination table in doctor’s officeGrace Cary/Getty Images
Medical care has become a financial strain across all income brackets, according to the new statistics. The index reveals that one in three upper-middle income households ($120,00 to $180,000) are not financially secure regarding healthcare costs, and neither are one in five households earning over $180,000.
Young adults, aged 18-29, have experienced the most significant reduction in their capacity to afford healthcare, with a 7 percentage point decrease in those identifying as “cost secure” over a year.
Women continue to lag behind men in their ability to manage healthcare expenses.
From 2021 to 2024, the disparity between men and women in affording care was 9%, but this gap expanded to 15% in 2025, representing the widest gender disparity in healthcare affordability ever recorded.
Healthcare costs and inflation persist in their upward trend, with medical spending reaching $5.3 trillion in 2024. This is partly attributed to a 3.4% increase in hospital prices in 2024, the most rapid rate of increase since 2007, and a 20% rise in insurance premiums following the lapse of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
With a multitude of Americans facing substantial financial difficulties related to healthcare, research indicates that this can result in severe outcomes, including the postponement or deferral of medical attention, ultimately leading to poorer overall health.
Torie A. Livingston, MD, MPH, is a third-year pediatric resident physician at the University of Chicago and contributes as a medical intern to the ABC News Medical Unit.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com