Washington D.C — A new poll from the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index shows that an estimated 2.8 million more Americans were unable to afford health care in 2025, compared to the previous year. Congressional Republicans’ Medicaid cuts and refusal to extend health care tax credits are now adding an additional financial burden to working families who are already struggling to afford basic necessities.
According to the poll, 51 percent of U.S. adults were not able to afford access to high-quality care. Following the passage of the Republican Tax Law last year, at least 10 million Americans are expected to lose their health care – further exacerbating the ongoing health care affordability crisis.
“This poll shows just that the Republican Tax Law is worsening the health care affordability crisis that is impacting millions of Americans,” said Unrig Our Economy spokesperson Kobie Christian. “ Congressional Republicans should work to protect Americans’ access to health care and other essential needs, not cut families’ health care to give billionaires even more tax breaks.”
Associated Press: How many Americans can afford high-quality healthcare? A new poll finds the number has fallen
Key Points:
- Twannetta Weaver had to delay her graduation by a year in compensation for caring for her slipped disk in her back. The medical bills were overwhelming for her to take into account all of her tuition, books, living expenses and continue to care for her family. She shared that she felt powerless as a consumer.
- According to new data from the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, only about half of U.S. adults could afford their healthcare and had access to quality care last year. Concerns about affording healthcare in the year ahead were at a record high since tracking began in 2021, signaling that many were feeling anxious about rising healthcare costs as 2025 ended.
- The new findings published Thursday draw on a survey conducted from October to December 2025 — before major recent changes to health policy, like Congress’ Medicaid cuts or its decision not to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, took effect.
- In the new data, 49% of U.S. adults were considered “cost secure,” meaning that they had access both to high-quality, affordable care and they had recently been able to afford the care and medicine they needed. In 2021, when the measurement began, 56% of U.S. adults were “cost secure.” That rose to 61% in 2022 but has been falling ever since.
- More than half of survey respondents said the cost of healthcare contributes “a lot” or “some” to stress to their daily lives. That’s compared to about 3 in 10 who said these costs contribute “very little stress” and about 2 in 10 who said they contribute “no stress at all.”
- Inger Perez, is one of those worried Americans. She has a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. She shared, “I’m terrified that I’ll start a plan of treatment but won’t be able to afford to keep up with it.”
- About 2 in 10 U.S. adults in the 2025 poll said there had been a time in the prior three months when they or a member of their household was unable to pay for medicine or drugs that a doctor had prescribed because of costs. About 3 in 10 said they or someone in their household did not seek treatment for a health problem because of the expense.
- Xavier Chapa, said his 50-year-old wife has been fighting her insurance company over a preventive colonoscopy that her doctor had recommended. He shared, “What point does it serve if you’re living in this country and having to pay such a high price and you can’t get some of the basic things?”
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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