A recent Gallup report projects that in 2025, fewer than half of U.S. adults will consistently afford needed care, raising serious implications for employers making benefits decisions in a high-cost environment.
The West Health-Gallup Affordability Index now classifies only 49% of U.S. adults as “cost secure”, able to access quality, affordable care and pay for needed care and medications. The share of cost-secure adults is down 12 points since 2022 and continuing a steady decline. At the same time, 41% of adults are now “cost insecure” and another 10% are “cost desperate,” meaning they cannot reliably access or pay for needed care and medications.
What’s Driving the Decline
The report highlights prescription drugs as a major pressure point: 42% of Americans now worry about affording their medications, up from 30% in 2021, making pharmacy costs a key driver of cost insecurity. The data also shows clear gaps by gender and health status, with women more likely to be cost insecure and to face barriers accessing and paying for needed care.
The index also shows Americans with chronic conditions are far less likely to be cost secure, and more than 6 in 10 adults with anxiety or depression struggle to afford care and prescriptions, putting their ability to manage these conditions at risk.
Looking Forward
The data confirms healthcare affordability is a frontline workforce issue. Employers who proactively review plan design, strengthen supplemental benefits, and improve benefits education today will be better positioned to support employees and control costs moving forward. Download the bulletin for more details.
