The Price of the US Health Care Affordability Crisis: High Anxiety, Skipped Care, Failing Health

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To cover a medical bill, more than half of those surveyed would downsize a home, 75% would take on a second job; more than 1/3 had already skipped care due to costs.

Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the US, nearly 100 million Americans, have medical debt, according to White House statement from the end of 2023. A recent survey of 1007 Americans who had a hospital visit or surgical procedure, for themselves or for a dependent, in the past 24 months, revealed the extent to which medical bills - or the fear of them - can impact the approach to getting care. The survey found that for many, the fear of a future unexpected health care expense, will lead them to avoid seeing a doctor, even when a condition is serious, or to skip a prescription refill. Following are the topline findings from the 2024 survey, commissioned by PayZen, a patient health care financing agency, and conducted by CensusWide.