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Costly Care Pushes Millions Away From Doctors
28 Aug
Summary
- A significant portion of uninsured adults skip needed care due to cost.
- Rising premiums and deductibles make insurance increasingly unaffordable.
- Underinsurance, not just lack of insurance, is a growing problem.
Many individuals avoid seeking medical attention due to various factors, with cost being a primary barrier. Experts note a stark difference in care avoidance between insured and uninsured populations. Approximately three-quarters of uninsured adults report skipping needed care because of cost in the past year. For insured adults, this figure stands at 37%, indicating a significant, though lower, rate of delayed care.
Rising healthcare premiums and deductibles have made insurance less accessible. From 2015 to 2025, average annual premiums for single individuals increased by nearly 50%, and family coverage saw a rise of over 50%. This has led many to downgrade their insurance plans to more affordable options with higher copays and deductibles.
This situation creates a problem of underinsurance, where individuals have coverage but still face substantial out-of-pocket expenses. This is particularly true in states like Texas, which has seen a quadrupling of individuals moving from premium plans to lower-tier options. Such underinsurance hinders access to primary care, impacting overall health outcomes.
Beyond cost, other factors influence healthcare access. A 2023 KFF study indicated that Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults report higher levels of unfair treatment in healthcare settings compared to their white counterparts. Additionally, men are generally less likely than women to seek medical care, a trend observed both in the U.S. and internationally.
