How many Americans can afford high-quality healthcare? A new poll finds the number has fallen
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Pages from the U.S. Affordable Care Act health insurance website healthcare.gov are seen on a computer screen in New York, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — Twannetta Weaver felt like she made the responsible choice when she enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan through her employer, an option that avoided high premiums and allowed her to save for retirement. Then, in 2025, she slipped a disk in her back, requiring medication and physical therapy.
AI Summary
Main Idea: A new West Health-Gallup Center poll finds fewer Americans can afford high-quality healthcare, and many are worried about paying for care next year.
Key Points:
- The share of U.S. adults counted as “cost secure” fell to 49% in 2025, down from 56% in 2021.
- About three-quarters of adults said healthcare costs are a major or minor financial burden, and about half are worried they will not be able to pay for needed care in 2026.
- Younger adults, women, and older adults all saw drops in affordability or access, showing the strain is spreading across age groups.
- The poll includes stories of people delaying care, skipping medicine, or taking on large bills because of high deductibles, limited networks, and coverage disputes.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
Fewer Americans can afford quality healthcare, so more households may face skipped care, bigger bills, and added stress.
Positive Impact
No clear positive impact identified.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Major:United Statescountry
Candidate Entities6 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- United StatescountryMajorEvaluated
National focus of the poll and the affordability trend affecting U.S. adults.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Inger PerezpersonMajorAI selected
Featured individual quoted about anxiety over costs and access to care.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Twannetta WeaverpersonMajorAI selected
Featured individual whose healthcare-cost experience illustrates the article’s main theme.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - West Health-Gallup Centereducational / research institutionMajorAI selected
Source of the affordability index and poll results that are central to the article.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Xavier ChapapersonContextCandidate
Named respondent whose family’s insurance dispute and bill burden are used as supporting examples.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Medicaregovernment agency or bodyMinorCandidate
Federal health insurance program referenced in discussing older adults’ coverage and affordability.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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