A new report from Gallup and West Health found a growing percentage of adults unable to afford quality health care, with a disproportionate rate among Black and Hispanic adults.
More than one-third of adults in the U.S. (35 percent) said they are unable to access quality, affordable health care—a new high since 2021, according to the report, which was conducted in partnership between Gallup and West Health.
The number of Americans who have recently been unable to pay for quality health care has also reached its highest level since 2021, rising from eight percent to 11 percent, which totals nearly 29 million people.
“The rising trajectory in the inability to pay for health care is a disturbing trend that is likely to continue and even accelerate,” said Tim Lash, president, West Health Policy Center, in a statement. “Policy action at both the state and federal level is urgently needed, or even more Americans will have to go without treatment or be forced to make painful tradeoffs between paying for medical care or paying for other necessities. The human and economic costs are enormous.”
The report also revealed prominent disparities in health care based on race, ethnicity, and income, with significant increases in adults’ inability to afford quality health care among Hispanic adults (up eight percentage points to 18 percent), Black adults (up five points to 14 percent), and the lowest-income households earning under $24,000 per year (up 11 points to 25 percent).
There was no significant change in the number of white adults or middle-to-high-income households also struggling to pay for quality health care.
Additional findings include:
- Compared to 2021 report findings, the number of Americans aged 65 and older considered “cost desperate” (individuals who lack access to quality, affordable care and have recently been unable to pay for needed care and medicine) rose one percentage point to four percent in 2024. Rates have risen by three points among adults aged 50-64 (11 percent) and by four points among adults under 50 (14 percent).
- Only about half of Americans (51 percent) are considered “cost secure,” meaning they have access to quality, affordable care and can pay for needed care and medicine. This is the lowest level yet.
- About four in 10 Americans are considered “cost insecure,” meaning they lack access to quality, affordable care or have recently been unable to pay for either needed care or medicine.
- The biggest drops in “cost secure” adults were among Hispanic adults (down 17 points to 34 percent) and Black adults (down 13 points to 41 percent). The percentage of white adults considered “cost secure” is consistent with 2021 levels (58 percent).
- Adults living in households earning less than $24,000 who are considered “cost secure” have dropped 14 points since 2021, reaching 23 percent. A similar trend was found among households earning $24,000 to less than $48,000 (dropping 12 points to 30 percent).