Financial Strain Amid Healthcare Costs: Insights from the 2025 Survey

Twannetta Weaver, holding a high-deductible health insurance plan, faced financial strain in 2025 when a back injury demanded medical attention, impacting her ability to afford tuition and family expenses. According to the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, her experience typifies a concerning trend; recent data show only half of U.S. adults could afford healthcare while maintaining access to quality services last year. The survey, which captured responses before recent changes in healthcare subsidies and Medicaid, emphasizes growing concerns about healthcare costs under current economic pressures.

The index identified individuals based on their access to quality care and financial capacity. In 2025, only 49% were deemed "cost secure," down from 56% in 2021, which alerts the insurance sector to a rising financial challenge posed by healthcare expenses. Healthcare costs were considered a significant burden by 75% of adults surveyed, with nearly half expressing worries about affording healthcare in 2026.

Inger Perez from Texas shared anxieties over medical costs despite preventive measures. Residents of rural areas, like Perez, often face tough financial choices due to limited provider networks in affordable healthcare plans. The report also highlighted demographic disparities: fewer than a third of Americans under 30 were "cost secure," and women were less secure than men, with this gap widening. Older adults, while generally better covered by Medicare, have also experienced a notable decline in financial security for healthcare.

Approximately 20% of adults in the 2025 survey skipped prescriptions due to cost, while 30% avoided treatment altogether. Insurance disputes, as seen in Xavier Chapa’s case with unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, highlight these challenges, forcing significant lifestyle adjustments. Conducted with a sample of 5,660 adults, the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1%, providing critical insights as the industry assesses the impact of policy changes on healthcare affordability.