How many people skip medical treatment due to healthcare costs?
In 2025, dental care was the most frequently skipped form of medical care, with 18% of American adults forgoing treatment.
In 2025, 26% 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 28% who avoided care in 2024 and is the lowest percentage since 2022.
The probability of declining medical care seems to correlate with income: 38% of people with a family income under $25,000 skipped some medical treatment in 2025, compared to 13% of people with incomes over $100,000.
More than one in four American adults delayed medical care in 2025 due to cost.
Percentage of adults who skipped medical treatment because of cost, 2013–2025
How many Americans are uninsured?
In 2024, 27.5 million Americans — 8.2% — 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, 11.3% aren’t insured, along with 6.0% of Americans under 19.
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High healthcare costs mean out-of-pocket expenses can drive uninsured adults into debt; in 2025, 21% of adults had an unexpected medical expense, with the median total being between $1,000 and $1,999. That same year, 18% of adults reported incurring debt from their own medical care or a family member’s.
Eight percent of Americans lacked health insurance in 2024.
Percent of Americans without health insurance, 2009–2024
What kind of medical care do people skip most frequently due to costs?
In 2025, people skipped dental care most frequently, with 18% of American adults forgoing treatment. This was followed by doctor visits (15%), follow-up care (10%), mental health care or counseling (10%), and prescription medication (9%).
In 2025, dental care was the most commonly skipped treatment due to cost.
Forms of medical treatment skipped because of cost in the prior 12 months
Does having health insurance reduce the probability of skipping medical care?
It does: In 2025, 45% of American adults without health insurance skipped some medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it, compared with 24% of insured adults.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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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