Americans' ability to afford healthcare hits new low in 2024
News-Medical.net
|
Summary
A recent report by the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index reveals that only 55% of Americans can now afford and access prescription drugs and quality healthcare, marking a six-point drop since 2022. The most significant declines were observed among adults aged 50-64 and those 65 and older, with younger adults under 50 experiencing the highest affordability challenges. The report categorizes Americans based on their ability to pay for and access healthcare into Cost Secure, Cost Insecure, and Cost Desperate groups. Forty-five percent of adults fall into the Cost Insecure or Cost Desperate categories, with significant disparities across age, race, and gender. Despite the negative trend, some optimism is tied to forthcoming policy changes, such as Medicare's enhanced ability to negotiate drug prices, which could stabilize healthcare costs. The survey's findings are based on responses from over 5,000 adults across the United States, collected between November 2023 and January 2024.
