The American healthcare affordability conversation usually happens in the abstract — "costs are too high" — without the actual numbers behind it. Here's what recent data shows about how many Americans are delaying care because of cost, and what that's doing to household finances.
More Than a Third of Adults Delay Care Because of Cost
According to KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) research, 36% of U.S. adults report skipping or postponing needed healthcare in the past 12 months specifically because of cost. That number rises sharply depending on insurance status.
Data
Adults Who Skipped or Delayed Care Due to Cost (Past 12 Months)
All U.S. Adults
Insured Adults
Uninsured Adults (under 65)
| Category | % who delayed care |
|---|---|
| All U.S. Adults | 36% |
| Insured Adults | 38% |
| Uninsured Adults (under 65) | 75% |
Source: KFF, Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs
Among uninsured adults under 65, a striking 75% went without necessary care. Even among adults with insurance, 38% still report delaying care despite having coverage — a reminder that having insurance and being able to actually afford care aren't the same thing. Nearly one in five adults (18%) report that their health got measurably worse as a direct result of skipping or delaying care.
Medical Debt Is Now a Mainstream Financial Issue, Not an Edge Case
Data
Forms of Healthcare-Related Debt (% of US Adults With Medical Debt)
Past-due / unpayable bills
Paying provider over time
Bank or collection loans
Credit card debt
Borrowed from family/friends
| Category | % of adults with medical debt |
|---|---|
| Past-due / unpayable bills | 24% |
| Paying provider over time | 21% |
| Bank or collection loans | 17% |
| Credit card debt | 17% |
| Borrowed from family/friends | 10% |
Source: KFF, Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs
41% of American adults currently carry some form of healthcare-related debt. That debt takes several forms: 24% have past-due or unpayable medical bills, 21% are paying providers directly over time, 17% have loans from banks or collection agencies, another 17% carry medical expenses on credit cards, and 10% have borrowed from family or friends to cover care. Lower-income individuals, uninsured people, and Black and Hispanic adults are disproportionately affected.
Key takeaway: Medical debt in the US isn't concentrated among a small, unlucky minority — over 4 in 10 adults carry some form of it, spread across multiple debt types, which is why cost has become the single biggest factor in whether Americans get care at all, not just where they get it.
Why This Is Relevant to Treatment Decisions
This data is part of why cost comparison has become central to how many American patients research dental, hair restoration and cosmetic treatment — not as a luxury consideration, but often as the deciding factor in whether treatment happens at all. We cover exactly what the cost gap looks like by procedure in Dental Treatment Costs: Turkey vs UK and What Cosmetic Surgery Really Costs: Turkey vs the UK, and separately in how patients are financing treatment abroad.
If cost is the main barrier standing between you and a treatment you actually need or want, it's worth seeing the real numbers before ruling it out. Request a free, no-obligation personalised quote to compare your options, including flexible payment plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Americans delay healthcare because of cost?
36% of all US adults report skipping or postponing needed care in the past 12 months due to cost, rising to 75% among uninsured adults under 65.
How common is medical debt in the US?
41% of American adults currently carry some form of healthcare-related debt, across a mix of unpaid bills, payment plans, loans, credit card debt and money borrowed from family.
Does having health insurance mean you won't delay care due to cost?
Not necessarily — 38% of insured adults still report delaying care because of cost, showing that coverage alone doesn't fully solve healthcare affordability.
Is this why more Americans are considering treatment abroad?
It's a significant factor for many of the US patients we work with — cost has become a primary driver in treatment decisions generally, not just for elective procedures.