How many people skip medical treatment due to healthcare costs?

In 2023, 27% of American adults skipped some form of medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it, according to the Federal Reserve. This is lower than the 32% who avoided care in 2013, when data collection began, but ties with 2015 and 2017 as the fourth-highest year on record.

The probability of declining medical care seems to correlate with income: 42% of people with a family income under $25,000 skipped some medical treatment in 2023, compared to 12% of people with incomes over $100,000.

How many Americans are uninsured?

In 2023, 26.2 million — 7.9% of Americans^[1] — did not have health insurance. Adults 65 and older were most likely to be covered: only 0.8% of them didn’t have health insurance.  But among adults ages 19 to 64, 11.0% aren’t insured, along with 5.4% of Americans under 19.

High healthcare costs mean out-of-pocket expenses can drive uninsured adults into debt; in 2023, 23% of adults had an unexpected medical expense, with the median total being between $1,000 and $1,999. That same year, 17% of adults reported incurring debt from their own medical care or a family member’s.

What kind of medical care do people skip most frequently due to costs?

In 2023, people skipped dental care most frequently, with 19% of American adults forgoing treatment. This was followed by doctor visits (15%), prescription medicine (10%), follow-up care (9%), and mental health or counseling visits (9%).

Does having health insurance reduce the probability of skipping medical care?

It does: In 2023, 46% of American adults without health insurance skipped some medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it, compared with 25% of insured adults.

The Department of Health and Human Services also found that uninsured adults are less likely to have a primary care provider, leaving them far less likely to access recommended medications and preventative care.

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