Escalating Financial Barriers to Healthcare Access
Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts Recent data indicate a significant increase in the proportion of U.S. adults facing severe financial barriers to accessing necessary healthcare and medicine, categorized as "Cost Desperate." Findings from the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Indices Study reveal that 11% of U.S. adults, representing approximately 29 million individuals, met this classification in late 2024, the highest level recorded since the index's inception in 2021. This trend is marked by rapidly widening disparities along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. Notably, the prevalence of cost desperation has increased substantially among Hispanic and Black populations and lower-income households while remaining stable among White adults and higher-income groups, exacerbating existing inequities in healthcare access and affordability. Healthcare affordability and access remain critical public health issues in the United States. The report analyzes trends in...