1 in 5 households couldn\u2019t pay for a prescription in the last three months<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Many Americans are bracing for higher medical costs in the new year and a growing number say those expenses are already shaping their decisions for care, according to a new survey.<\/p>\n
The latest West Health\u2013Gallup poll<\/a>, shows that 47% of adults are worried they won\u2019t be able to afford health care in 2026, the highest level since the organizations began tracking these concerns four years ago.<\/p>\n And 1 in 5 adults say someone in their household couldn\u2019t pay for a prescription in the last three months.<\/p>\n The report, based on nearly 20,000 people across all 50 states, paints a detailed picture of how Americans experience cost, quality and access to care where they live.<\/p>\n Researchers ranked every state and the differences were striking.<\/p>\n States like Iowa and Massachusetts landed at the top for overall health care experience, performing well on cost, quality and access.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, states such as Alaska, Arkansas and Texas were among the lowest ranked, with residents reporting more difficulty finding care, paying for medications and accessing needed services.<\/p>\n Even in the best-performing states, many people still struggle.<\/p>\n In the top 10 states, 25% of adults say they skipped recommended care due to cost, compared with 40% in the lowest-ranked states. And 15% in top states couldn\u2019t afford a prescription in the last three months, compared with 29% in bottom 10 states.<\/p>\n The survey also found that long wait times are a widespread barrier: 53% of Americans say delays prevented or postponed needed care. In Vermont, the rate reached 72%, while Nebraska, a top state for access, had 46% reporting this barrier.<\/p>\n Researchers say the findings highlight nationwide strain, even in states that perform well.<\/p>\n “Americans are saying, \u2018Hey, now that I really think about it, I\u2019m paying too much and I\u2019m not getting enough,\u2019” Timothy Lash<\/a>, president of West Health, a nonprofit dedicated to lowering healthcare costs, said to NBC News<\/em>. “Health care is not what it needs to be right now.”<\/p>\n State gaps were also wide for prescription access, preventive care and finding providers. For example, 36% of adults in New Mexico said they didn\u2019t know how to find a medical professional when needed, compared with 14% in Iowa, another top-ranked state for access, results show.<\/p>\n Overall, Americans gave the U.S. health care system a C grade, with D+ for cost and C+ for quality and access.<\/p>\n No states earned an A in any category.<\/p>\n Researchers say the results show that every state, even those near the top, has major room to improve.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n Gallup has the full poll results here<\/a>.<\/p>\n