The health care affordability crisis is hitting consumers at all income levels

By Dennis Archambault

It has taken a while for the reality to fully set in, but Americans across all levels of society are facing mounting cost pressures—from food and utilities to health care — and those pressures are influencing decisions that directly affect their health. Often, this means avoiding preventive screenings and routine health maintenance, stretching out prescription medications, or even skipping meals. In some cases, it means postponing necessary medical or dental procedures altogether.

According to a recent report published by the West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, Americans are cutting back on a wide range of expenses—including utilities, food, and prescription drugs—in order to pay for health insurance and health care services. What is striking is that this challenge is not limited to those at the lower end of the income spectrum. The poll found that roughly one quarter of adults earning between $90,000 and $120,000 annually — about 9 million people — report having to make tradeoffs that significantly affect their lifestyle.

Another poll published this month by United States of Care Action, an advocacy organization committed to advancing health reform, suggests that Americans are nearing a point of despair. Key findings include:

• Health care affordability is out of reach. What was once a casual conversation has become an oppressive and persistent stressor. The cost of health insurance and care now weighs heavily on daily life.
• Medical debt is widespread and deeply damaging. Across income levels and insurance types, many Americans have accumulated medical debt on top of mortgages, auto loans, and other obligations, eroding their overall quality of life.
• There is a clear call for action. Regardless of demographic differences, people are looking to policymakers for meaningful reforms that will ease affordability concerns.
• Lowering costs must be a priority. Concern about the high cost of health care now outweighs worries about insurance coverage itself or even access to services, with overwhelming support for Congress to act.

In response to this crisis, the State of Michigan has partnered with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt  to help relieve the financial burden on residents. As of 2026, the state has provided $114 million in medical debt relief, benefiting more than 210,000 Michiganders.

These findings underscore a critical truth: Health care affordability is not just a health issue—it is a profound economic and societal challenge that touches nearly every aspect of life. If current trends continue, conditions are likely to worsen without substantial and sustained health care reforms.

One often-overlooked consequence of this affordability crisis is its impact on funding for health and human services. As the government significantly reduces its financial commitment to these areas, the burden increasingly shifts to philanthropic organizations and individual donors. Yet that gap is no longer a void—it is becoming a chasm.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health.