The latest study by West Health and the Gallup Institute reveals a dramatic situation in the US: one in three citizens had to take on debt or cut spending on food and utilities in 2025 to cover rising healthcare costs.
Drastic savings
33% of the US population cut spending on basic needs or took out loans due to medical costs.
Threat to health
Americans are forced to ration medication and skip meals, which directly impacts their physical condition.
Delayed retirements
About 14% of respondents admitted that high healthcare costs forced them to postpone plans to end their professional activity.
Problem for the insured
The crisis also affects people with private policies, who struggle with higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
One third of Americans, or about 33% of the population, cut spending on basic needs or took out loans in 2025 to cover rising healthcare costs. These are the findings of a joint study by the Gallup Institute and the West Health organization, published in March 2026. Respondents admitted in surveys that to finance treatment, they had to skip meals, ration medication, or drastically cut household budgets allocated for other purposes. This phenomenon affects broad social groups, forcing millions of people to make dramatic choices between caring for their health and daily sustenance.
High medical costs impact not only current consumption but also fundamental life decisions for US residents. About 14% of study participants declared that due to health expenses, they had to postpone important life events, such as getting married or buying a house. Many Americans also decide to delay retirement, fearing a lack of funds for treatment in old age, as confirmed by analyses from West Health, a foundation established by philanthropists Gary and Mary West. This problem is becoming a barrier to social mobility and financial stability for younger generations.
The situation did not improve in 2026, when most people with private health insurance face further increases in financial burdens. Americans report higher insurance premiums and rising out-of-pocket costs, which they must cover before receiving full reimbursement. Even having a policy does not guarantee protection from medical debt, forcing some patients to take out loans to pay for specialist visits or necessary procedures.
The Gallup Institute, founded in 1935 by George Gallup, has been monitoring social moods and the economic situation in the US for decades. West Health, in turn, is a philanthropic initiative focused on lowering care costs, particularly in the context of an aging society. Previous studies from April 2025 indicated that 11% of Americans were unable to pay for necessary medications and therapies. The current results confirm a deepening trend of rationing medical care for financial reasons, affecting millions of households.
Mentioned People
- Gary West — American philanthropist, co-founder of the non-profit organization West Health
- Mary West — American philanthropist, co-founder of the non-profit organization West Health
- George Gallup — American statistician, founder of the Gallup Institute