82 Million Americans Are Skipping Meals to Pay for Healthcare

Summary

A 2026 West Health-Gallup report found that over 82 million American adults cut back on basic necessities to pay for healthcare in the past year. The video cites specific figures for meal skipping, utility reduction, reduced driving, and medical borrowing, along with 2025 employer-sponsored insurance premium and deductible data.

Topic

Healthcare & Medical Debt · also covers: Cost of Living, System & Policy, Housing Crisis

Tactics from this video

• Use pharmacy discount programs and choose generic medications when available.

  Generic medications through discount programs can cost dramatically less.

  financial

• Ask hospitals and clinics for cash pricing instead of insurance billing.

  Cash pricing can sometimes be lower than the billed insurance rate.

  financial

• Seek care at federally funded community health clinics.

  These clinics often provide sliding-scale care, especially for uninsured patients.

  health

• Negotiate medical bills directly with hospitals.

  Hospitals frequently reduce charges if patients ask or push back.

  financial

• Check pharmaceutical company prescription assistance programs.

  Some drug manufacturers offer programs to help patients afford medications.

  financial

Figures cited

• 82 million — American adults who cut back on basic necessities to pay for healthcare in the past year
• 11% — Americans who skipped meals to afford healthcare
• 28 million — Americans who skipped meals to afford healthcare
• 9% — Americans who cut back on utilities to pay medical expenses
• 11% — Americans who reported driving less to save money for healthcare
• 15% — Americans who say they borrowed money to pay for medical expenses
• $26,993 — Average family premium for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2025
• 34% — Insured workers with deductibles of $2,000 or more
• 4.8 million — Americans who could lose insurance coverage by the end of 2026 due to expiring enhanced tax credits
• 5 million — People who could lose Medicaid coverage over the next decade

Pain points addressed

• I have to choose between buying groceries and paying for my medication.

• My family pays nearly $27,000 a year just for insurance premiums, before any actual care.

• I paid premiums for years but still face a $2,000+ deductible before insurance helps.

• I'm borrowing money for medical bills and falling into long-term debt.

• I'm rationing pills or skipping doses to make prescriptions last longer.

• I'm worried I'll lose my coverage when subsidies or Medicaid enrollment changes.