The latest KFF Health Tracking poll, updated in September 2026, paints a stark picture of American finances. Roughly six in ten adults say they are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about covering health-related expenses for themselves or their families. This anxiety eclipses concerns about rent, groceries, transportation and utilities, making health care the single most prominent financial stressor in the United States.
Financial anxiety spikes as health care climbs to the top of the worry list
About 27% of respondents reported being “very” worried about medical costs, while an additional 35% expressed moderate concern. By contrast, worries about gasoline (22%), mortgage or rent (21%), food (20%) and utilities (19%) lag behind. The sentiment is especially acute among the uninsured: 87% of adults under 65 without coverage say they are at least somewhat anxious about health expenses, compared with 64% of insured peers. Racial and ethnic disparities also surface—55% of Hispanic and 49% of Black adults admit difficulty affording care, versus 39% of White adults.
Cost-driven avoidance of needed care and its health toll
When bills climb, many Americans postpone or forgo care altogether. 28% of adults admitted skipping or delaying needed medical services in the past year because of price, and the figure soars to 62% among the uninsured. Younger adults, women, Hispanic respondents, and lower-income households are disproportionately represented in this group. Skipping care has tangible health consequences: 15% of all adults say their health deteriorated after postponing treatment, a rate that jumps to 27% for those with multiple chronic conditions. Even among the insured, one-third still report forgoing care due to cost.
Medical bills, debt and prescription-drug shortcuts
Financial strain translates into tangible payment problems. 22% of adults faced difficulty paying medical bills in the previous 12 months, and 14% had to cut back on essentials such as food or clothing to settle health expenses. The burden is heavier for younger adults, women, low-income earners, and the uninsured. Prescription costs add another layer of hardship: 43% of adults admitted not taking medication as prescribed because of price. This includes 31% who substituted over-the-counter products, 27% who left prescriptions unfilled, and 19% who split or skipped doses. Low-income households (under $40 k) report a 52% non-adherence rate, compared with 30% in higher-earning families.
Health-care debt across demographic lines
Debt tied to medical or dental bills touches 41% of American adults. Black and Hispanic respondents, women, parents, low-income earners and the uninsured are over-represented among those owing money to credit cards, collection agencies or even friends and family. In 2022, a quarter of adults said they had overdue medical balances, and one-fifth were repaying bills directly to providers.
Insurance does not fully shield against expense anxiety
Even individuals with coverage report affordability issues. Approximately one-third of privately insured adults rate their monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs as “fair” or “poor,” and the same share feels their prescription co-pays are unreasonable. Insured respondents still experience care avoidance: 30% of adults aged 18-64 with insurance delayed needed services because of cost, and 25% reported problems paying medical bills in the last year. Those with employer-sponsored or Marketplace plans are more likely to assign negative ratings than Medicare or Medicaid enrollees, who generally encounter lower premiums and nominal copays.
LGBTQ+ and chronic-condition groups face amplified challenges
Survey data highlight two particularly vulnerable populations. Over 43% of LGBTQ+ adults skipped or delayed care for cost reasons, compared with 26% of non-LGBTQ+ peers. Transgender respondents report the highest avoidance rate at 56%, and 45% say their health worsened after postponing treatment. Adults aged 18-64 with three or more chronic conditions also fare poorly: 36% missed needed care because of price, 27% saw health decline, and an equal share grappled with medical-bill payment problems.
Collectively, these findings underscore that the United States continues to wrestle with a health-care financing landscape that strains households across the income spectrum, regardless of insurance status. The persistence of high out-of-pocket costs, prescription-drug price pressures, and mounting medical debt suggests that policy interventions will need to address both cost reduction and consumer protection to alleviate the widespread financial anxiety tied to health care.
