New surveys reveal millions of Americans are skipping meals and reducing utilities to pay medical bills.
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One-third of Americans have reduced spending on basic necessities or borrowed money to cover healthcare costs in 2025, according to multiple new surveys. The findings highlight how millions are skipping meals, cutting back on utilities, and postponing retirement to afford medical care. These financial sacrifices span across income levels and age groups.
The healthcare affordability crisis forces Americans to make impossible choices between medical treatment and basic living expenses. Rising insurance premiums, high deductibles, and prescription drug costs have created a system where even insured individuals struggle to access care. This pattern reflects broader systemic issues in the U.S. healthcare system.
The surveys document widespread rationing behaviors, with Americans delaying or skipping prescribed medications due to cost. Many respondents report borrowing money from family or using credit cards to pay medical bills. These coping strategies often create additional financial stress and debt cycles.
The healthcare cost burden disproportionately affects older adults nearing retirement and lower-income families. Some Americans are postponing retirement to maintain employer-provided health insurance, while others face difficult decisions about ongoing medical treatments. These trends may worsen health outcomes and increase long-term healthcare system costs.