An overwhelming number of Americans are delaying medical care<\/a> because of fears they can\u2019t afford it<\/a>, a new study has found. <\/p>\n Some 92 percent have delayed or abandoned medical care<\/a> because of costs, according to a survey<\/a> of 1,507 U.S.adults by financial services firm JG Wentworth.<\/p>\n Those aged 18 to 28<\/a> are the most likely to delay or avoid care because of cost (94.2 percent), followed by those aged 29 to 44. <\/p>\n \u201cThe findings highlight a growing gap between having health insurance and feeling financially protected, with medical costs forcing many Americans to delay treatment, cut essential spending and take on debt<\/a>,\u201d the study said. <\/p>\n The decision to delay medical care involves multiple issues, including gender – women are more likely to put off care than men. Other factors include age and whether or not someone has health insurance.<\/p>\n A doctor\u2019s office visit for those without insurance costs an average of $171 across major U.S. cities, according to a February 2026 analysis<\/a> by healthcare provider marketplace Zocdoc.<\/p>\n High prices at the doctor\u2019s office, urgent care, emergency room and more have led to 85 percent of Americans having medical debt. <\/p>\n Collectively, American consumers have $220 billion in medical debt, according to a February poll<\/a> from KFF – that\u2019s around $958.61 per adult with medical debt.<\/p>\n There are a wide range of consequences for delaying doctor\u2019s visits, a May 2025 survey<\/a> from KFF found. Nearly one in five adults said their health got worse because they skipped a doctor\u2019s visit. That problem is more acute for those 64 and younger – 42 percent say their health got worse after putting off a medical visit. <\/p>\n The problem bleeds over into prescription drug costs, too, an April KFF study<\/a> discovered. Some 31 percent of adults say they\u2019ve opted for over-the-counter medication instead of prescription drugs because of costs. Another 19 percent say they skip prescription doses or cut pills in half to make their medication last. <\/p>\n Healthcare costs aren\u2019t expected to go down through 2027, a June study<\/a> from financial firm PwC found. <\/p>\n \u201cHealth plans are projecting the highest medical cost trend in nearly two decades, with commercial healthcare cost trend expected to rise to 9 [percent] in 2027,\u201d the study said. <\/p>\n Factors such as AI-enabled revenue optimization tools and more use of behavioral health benefits will influence the increase, PwC noted. <\/p>\n The Trump administration has proposed several strategies for lower healthcare costs with \u201cThe Great Healthcare Plan<\/a>,\u201d which, among other things, calls for lowering what Americans pay for medication by getting most-favored-nation pricing from countries that send medication to the U.S.<\/p>\n The U.S. secured most-favored-nation pricing with 16 pharmaceutical companies. Yet 953 of the 971 drugs available through most-favored status went up in price in January 2026, according to an analysis<\/a> from data analytics site 46brooklyn. <\/p>\n That number of price hikes is the second-highest in the past five years. Only January 2023 had a higher number of price increases – 960. <\/p>\n Beyond healthcare, consumers are navigating an inflation rate that\u2019s risen quickly since February thanks to rocketing energy costs resulting from President Donald Trump\u2019s war with Iran. <\/p>\n Since dropping to 2.4 percent in February, inflation rose to 3.3 percent in March, 4.2 percent in May and fell to 3.5 percent in June. <\/p>\n![\"Some](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/104222449...jpeg\")
Some 92 percent have delayed or abandoned medical care because of costs, according to a survey of 1,507 U.S.adults by financial services firm JG Wentworth (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1993771626...jpeg\")
A startling 31 percent of Americans say they\u2019ve taken an over-the-counter medication to combat conditions requiring prescriptions because they can\u2019t afford them (Getty)<\/p>\n