As pandemic lingers, health care expenses and worries mount for many Americans
Half of U.S. adults say they put off or skipped some sort of health care or dental care in the past year because of the cost.
As 2021 quickly winds down, the pandemic continues to drag on – and so does the financial burden on American families. A new survey from KFF found that health care costs remain a top financial worry for many people.
Many U.S. adults have difficulty affording various health care and dental costs. These difficulties are comparable to — and in many cases, higher than — the number of people who have difficulty affording other household costs, such as rent, transportation and food. Specifically, nearly half report having difficulty paying for dental care, and a similar number of insured adults report difficulty affording out-of-pocket costs not covered by their insurance (46%). One-third cite difficulty paying for hearing or vision care, while about one-quarter say the same about their prescription drugs. Among the insured, about one-quarter say their monthly premium is hard to afford.
The cost of health care often prevents people from getting needed care or filling prescriptions. Half of U.S. adults say they put off or skipped some sort of health care or dental care in the past year because of the cost. Three in ten also report not taking their medicines as prescribed at some point in the past year because of the cost.
High health care costs disproportionately affect uninsured adults, Black and Hispanic adults, and those with lower incomes. Larger shares of U.S. adults in each of these groups report difficulty affording various types of care and delaying or forgoing medical care because of the cost.
Those who are covered by health insurance are not immune to the burden of health care costs. Nearly half of insured adults report difficulty affording their out-of-pocket costs, and one in four report difficulty affording their deductible.
Difficulty paying medical bills can have significant consequences for U.S. families. In March 2019, about one-fourth of U.S. adults reported that they or a household member have had problems paying medical bills in the past year, and about half of this group said the bills had a major impact on their family. Medical bill problems also disproportionately affect those without health insurance, those with lower household incomes and adults in households where they or a member of their household has a serious health condition.