SouthernWorldwide.com – A recent Gallup poll has revealed a concerning trend: less than half of Americans can currently afford quality healthcare. This signifies a significant decline in financial security regarding medical expenses and access to necessary care.
The percentage of Americans classified as “cost secure” — meaning they can afford quality care, doctor visits, and prescriptions — dropped to 49% last year. This is a notable decrease from the 61% recorded in 2022, reaching the lowest point since Gallup began tracking this metric in 2021.
This erosion of affordability is accompanied by growing anxieties among the public about their capacity to manage healthcare expenditures. A majority of those surveyed, 51%, expressed concerns about their ability to pay for medical services in the upcoming year. Furthermore, 42% are worried about the cost of prescription drugs.
The financial strain is not confined to lower-income households; it extends to those with higher earnings as well. Gallup’s findings indicate that approximately one-third of households earning between $120,000 and $179,999 annually, and one-fifth of those with incomes of $180,000 or more, reported either lacking adequate coverage or facing difficulties in affording expenses like prescription medications.
Generational disparities also highlight the widespread nature of this challenge. With the exception of adults aged 50 to 65, every other age group surveyed experienced a decline in healthcare affordability between 2023 and 2025. The youngest adults, those aged 18 to 29, appear to be the most vulnerable, with only about a third considered cost-secure.
It’s important to note that these findings may not fully encompass the extent of financial pressure Americans are currently experiencing. The study was conducted prior to the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidies in early 2026. This expiration led to a surge in insurance premiums, compelling some individuals to forgo health insurance altogether.
Data from January of this year indicates a dip in ACA enrollment, with over 1 million fewer participants compared to 2025. KFF, an organization dedicated to health policy research, estimates a substantial decrease, projecting that nearly 5 million fewer individuals will enroll in ACA plans this year.
In an effort to address these growing concerns, the Trump administration unveiled “The Great Healthcare Plan” in January. This initiative, according to the White House, aimed to reduce health insurance premiums and provide direct financial assistance to Americans for healthcare costs. Subsequently, in February, the administration launched TrumpRx, a platform designed to offer discounted prescription drugs to the public.
The Gallup poll’s conclusions are drawn from web and mail surveys administered to 5,660 U.S. adults. The data collection period spanned from October to December of the previous year.
