Nearly 1 in 4 Insured Americans Skipped Medical Care Over Cost as Coverage Leaves Gaps
International Business Times
Last updated: October 23, 2026
A significant portion of insured Americans are foregoing necessary medical care due to high costs, indicating that current insurance coverage has substantial gaps. This issue disproportionately affects individuals with lower incomes, highlighting an economic disparity in healthcare access.
- A study revealed that nearly one-quarter of insured Americans have skipped medical care because of its expense.
- Income level is strongly correlated with healthcare access.
- Approximately 38% of adults with family incomes below $25,000 reported skipping medical care due to cost.
- In contrast, only 13% of adults with family incomes of $100,000 or more experienced similar cost-related barriers to care.
- These figures underscore that even with insurance, financial constraints prevent many individuals from receiving timely medical attention.
- The disparity in skipped care based on income suggests systemic issues in how healthcare costs are managed and how insurance policies adequately cover essential services for all segments of the population.
