A recent KFF report highlights significant racial and ethnic disparities in health care affordability and access across the United States. The data reveals that Black and Hispanic adults face greater challenges in affording health care compared to their White counterparts. According to the report, about 60% of Black adults and 65% of Hispanic adults report difficulty affording health care costs, compared to only 39% of White adults. This disparity extends to prescription drug affordability, with Black and Hispanic adults more likely to struggle with medication costs.
The impact of these cost barriers is evident in care-seeking behaviors. The survey found that women, who often face higher health care needs, are more likely than men to skip or postpone needed care due to costs. Additionally, immigrant adults, particularly those who are uninsured, frequently delay care, with 36% of uninsured immigrants reporting skipping or postponing care in the past year.
The burden of health care debt also falls disproportionately on minority communities. The report states that “disproportionate shares of Black and Hispanic adults” report having health care debt compared to the general population. These financial pressures lead to difficult choices. About one in five adults report not filling prescriptions due to cost, with this rate rising to nearly one-third among Hispanic adults. Similarly, 27% of adults with annual household incomes under $40,000 report taking over-the-counter drugs instead of filling prescriptions.
The findings underscore the persistent health inequities in the US health care system, where minority and low-income populations face greater barriers to accessing and affording necessary medical care.
See “Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs” (March 1, 2024)
