High medical costs are changing how many Americans use health care. A recent analysis by KFF found that 28% of U.S. adults had postponed or skipped care they needed because of cost during the previous 12 months. The analysis was updated on Sept. 29, 2026.
The financial strain also affects how people take prescription drugs. KFF found that 43% of adults reported changing their medication use to save money. The findings cover decisions such as whether to seek treatment, fill prescriptions and pay for other household needs while facing medical expenses.
Insurance does not eliminate the pressure
Uninsured adults younger than 65 reported the highest rate of delayed or skipped care in the KFF analysis. Sixty-two percent of that group said they had postponed or gone without needed treatment because of cost. Among insured adults ages 18 to 64, about 30% reported doing so.
Health insurance can reduce the amount patients pay for covered services, but premiums, deductibles, copayments and bills for services not fully covered can still leave households with substantial expenses. Those costs can compete with rent, food and other regular obligations, increasing the risk that a medical bill will remain unpaid.
| Finding | Reported share |
|---|---|
| Adults who skipped or postponed needed care because of cost | 28% |
| Uninsured adults younger than 65 who skipped or postponed care | 62% |
| Insured adults ages 18 to 64 who skipped or postponed care | About 30% |
| Adults who changed prescription use to save money | 43% |
Another survey shows a broader measure
A separate Commonwealth Fund survey published in October 2026 found that 50% of working-age adults had avoided or gone without needed health care because of cost. That figure included people who did not fill prescriptions, skipped recommended tests or treatment, avoided medical visits or went without needed specialist care. The survey’s result was up from 46% in 2022.
The two percentages should not be treated as identical measures. KFF and the Commonwealth Fund used different questions and definitions. KFF’s figure focuses on the previous 12 months and asks about needed care, while the Commonwealth Fund measure covers several forms of forgone treatment among working-age adults.
Together, the findings show how affordability can affect both medical decisions and household finances. People with chronic conditions may face added pressure because they need recurring appointments, tests and prescription medication rather than occasional care. Delaying treatment, leaving prescriptions unfilled or taking less medication than prescribed can allow health problems to worsen, according to the analysis, potentially making later care more difficult to manage.
Medical bills can create longer-term financial strain
The consequences can extend beyond the decision to postpone an appointment. A patient who cannot cover a bill may face an unpaid balance, while a household that changes medication use to reduce spending may encounter additional health costs later. The survey findings do not measure how many respondents entered collections or accumulated medical debt, but they document the financial choices that can precede those outcomes.
- 28% of adults in the KFF analysis delayed or skipped needed care because of cost.
- 43% reported changing how they took prescription medication to save money.
- The Commonwealth Fund reported that half of working-age adults had avoided or gone without needed care under its broader measure.
