Health Spending Outlook 2025 Finances are heavy on the minds of many Americans as we head into a new year. Nearly 3 in 4 (72%) Americans are worried about the cost of healthcare-related expenses in 2025, and 2 in 3 anticipate paying more for their healthcare compared to the year prior. Costs have become such a concern that over half (57%) feel financial stress whenever they go to the doctor. These financial concerns are leading some Americans to take more drastic measures when it comes to their health: skipping important health procedures, cutting back on prescriptions, and avoiding certain doctors. Nearly 1 in 3 Planning to Skip Going to the Doctor in 2025 to Save Money In 2025, nearly 1 in 3 (32%) are planning to skip going to the doctor to save money (young people aren’t the only ones doing it). The top doctors Americans plan to avoid are dentists followed by eye doctors and general practitioners. People are not only skipping regular appointments, but necessary health procedures too. Over 1 in 4 (26%) plan to put off medical procedures in 2025 to save money, and 44% of those are avoiding non-elective procedures. When it comes to medications, 34% have skipped getting a prescribed medication because of how much it costs, and 35% have used their medication less than recommended so they could make it last longer and not spend as much money. All of this comes at a health cost: 30% say their health issues have gotten worse after skipping the doctor to save money. Majority of Americans Do Not Have Enough Funds for a Health Emergency If Americans had a health emergency today, 63% feel they couldn’t financially handle it. In fact, over 1 in 2 admitted they will go into debt if facing a health crisis that costs $1,000 or more. Healthcare costs are increasingly anxiety-inducing for some Americans with over half (53%) feeling overwhelmed by the costs. Within the last year, 34% have had to choose between paying for healthcare or other essential expenses like food and housing. Nearly 1 in 6 use credit cards to cover every healthcare bill, and 37% said they’ve been sent to collections for unpaid medical bills. Medical Care Cost Complexities and Confusion For many Americans, the way medical bills are determined leads to a lot of confusion. Over half (58%) find it difficult to get medical cost information before getting care, and 37% say medical providers do not provide transparent pricing. Transparent pricing in healthcare is when companies share how much appointments and procedures cost ahead of time. Medical care cost concerns are leading some Americans to postpone or even cancel medical procedures. Survey statistics show nearly half (48%) have delayed a medical procedure because they struggled to figure out how much it cost after insurance, and 32% have gone so far as to cancel it entirely. Others are considering getting their healthcare done out of the country. Over 1 in 4 (26%) would consider going someplace international for medical work. A very small percentage of survey respondents shared that they’ve actually done what is often referred to as medical tourism. While those Americans mainly went to Mexico, Turkey, and Thailand, one survey respondent shared they went to India for an ear procedure. They said that doctors in the U.S. quoted them $4,000 and insurance wouldn’t cover it, but in India, they were able to get the same procedure done at a reputable hospital for $100. Healthcare costs aren’t the easiest to navigate, especially when trying to understand what a final bill will look like. Recent laws, such as hospital price transparency, have been passed to help pull back the curtain on medical care costs in the U.S. and help people have a better understanding of what they’ll be expected to pay, but for many, confusion and uncertainty still remains. If you have concerns about your healthcare costs, reach out to your insurance and your health provider. Methodology In September 2024 we surveyed 1,007 Americans about their healthcare. 41% were men, 57% were women, 1% were non-binary, and 1% would rather not say. Ages ranged from 18 to 79 with an average age of 41. For media inquiries, please contact media@digitalthirdcoast.net. Fair Use When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing https://www.harmonyhit.com.