Between 2024 and 2025, an estimated 2.8 million more Americans said they were unable to afford healthcare
New data reveals that fewer than half of Americans can comfortably afford healthcare, reaching a multi-year low. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults said healthcare costs were a “major” or “minor” financial burden for them, and half of respondents were “extremely concerned” or “concerned” that their household would be unable to pay for necessary healthcare services over the next year.
The new data was collected before Donald Trump and Republicans refused to extend the popular enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, forcing insurance premiums to increase by an average of 58% and causing ACA enrollment to initially drop by over 1 million. Yet, nearly half of Americans say they’re more likely to vote for candidates in the midterms who support reinstating enhanced ACA subsidies. Trump and Republicans cut Medicaid by nearly $1 TRILLION — the largest cut to healthcare in history — which is projected to leave an additional 15 million people uninsured.
Now, over 1,000 hospitals, nursing homes, maternity wards, and providers have closed, cut services, or are at risk of doing so. And despite Trump touting his “most favored nation” deals, numerous drugmakers have raised prices on hundreds of prescription drugs and launched new drugs at an average price of $353,000 a year. After making healthcare even more expensive for tens of millions of Americans, Trump and his administration now want Americans to take out loans for medical bills they can’t pay.
In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:
“It’s no wonder most Americans say they can’t afford to go to the doctor. Donald Trump and Republicans have made healthcare unaffordable, and now, everyday Americans are grappling with skyrocketing insurance premiums and rising drug costs, and being forced to travel farther for care as hospitals and nursing homes close — just so Trump’s wealthy donors can pocket bigger tax cuts. Democrats will continue to fight to lower healthcare costs for working families and ensure that Americans have access to quality care no matter their ZIP code.”
