Survey data shows stress spreading beyond medical bills
Nearly half of Americans are worried they will not be able to afford necessary health care in the coming year, marking the highest level of anxiety since tracking began in 2021.
A West Health–Gallup survey found 47% of US residents expressed concern about affording health care, while 15% said health care costs cause “a lot of stress” in their daily lives – nearly double the 8% who reported such stress in 2022.
The annual survey, conducted between June and August, included roughly 20,000 respondents across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It asked 27 questions about health care experiences.
Prescription drug costs emerged as a significant concern, with 37% reporting stress about medication expenses. Roughly one in three adults said they delayed or skipped medical care over the past year because they could not afford it.
“It’s definitely a concern,” said Kimberly Landry, associate research director at LIMRA, an insurance industry trade association based in Windsor, Connecticut. “We had a couple years where the health care cost trend wasn’t as high, and now it’s shooting up again. It’s clearly a huge challenge for employers and employees.”
The anxiety follows substantial increases in health care costs throughout 2025. The average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance climbed to $17,496 in 2025, up 6% from the previous year and well above inflation and wage growth, according to Mercer’s 2025 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. The Kaiser Family Foundation found premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached nearly $27,000 a year in 2025, with workers contributing $6,850 towards the cost.
Many Americans are facing added pressure as growing numbers of employers raise deductibles or make other changes that shift more responsibility for health care costs to employees.
“Uncertainty around future trends in employer costs remains high, particularly as they relate to rising health care costs,” said Andrea Medici, labour economist at SHRM. “The interplay between slowing wage growth and rising health care expenses presents a nuanced outlook for employers. Employers should monitor these trends closely to balance competitive compensation packages with long-term cost sustainability.”
Looking ahead to 2026, health costs are projected to rise another 6.7% to $18,500 per worker on average, according to Mercer. The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans recently found organisations are projecting a 10% increase in health care costs in 2026.
“May be even more challenging from a cost perspective,” Ed Lehman, Mercer’s US health and benefits leader, said of 2026.
