Health Costs Force Americans to Cut Back

Health Care Costs Force Tough Choices for 82 Million Americans

A recent survey shows that many people in the United States are having to make tough choices because health care costs keep climbing.

• About one‑third of the population—roughly 82 million people—reported that they have had to change their habits or borrow money just to pay for medical care.
• The study, carried out from June to August 2025 by a partnership between Gallup and a nonprofit group that focuses on health costs, asked people how they were coping.
• 15 % said they took out loans or used credit to cover expenses, while 11 % admitted skipping a meal to save money.
• Those without insurance face even larger compromises.
  Many have put off major life decisions—such as having a child, retiring or even taking a vacation—because they cannot afford the required care.
• 29 % delayed a trip and 26 % postponed surgery or other treatments in the last four years.
• Earlier polling by the same teams showed a growing fear that people might not be able to get care when needed.
  At the time, 11 % of adults reported recently being unable to pay for medication or treatment, the highest figure in four years.

The data point to a steady rise in financial strain caused by medical expenses. People are feeling the pressure every day, and it is becoming more difficult to keep up with health care needs.