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 — 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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Read data analyses written by the USAFacts team.
Page sources and methodology
All of the data on the page was sourced directly from government agencies. The analysis and final review was performed by USAFacts.
Federal Reserve
Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023
Census Bureau
American Community Survey
