“Nearly half of all Americans struggle to afford access to quality health care and prescription medications,” Ian Randall writes over at Newsweek. “This is the warning of the latest report from the Healthcare Affordability Index, which tracks how many in the U.S. have been forced to avoid medical care or haven’t been able to fill their prescriptions in the last three months — and how many would struggle to pay for care if it was needed. Affordability has fallen six points since 2022, down to a record low of 55 percent since the index was launched back in 2021. According to the researchers, this descent mainly affects two age groups: those aged 50–64 (down eight points to 55 percent over the same period) and those 65 and older (down eight points to 71 percent). However, the age group most struggling to afford healthcare is adults under 50 — with 53 percent unable to cover their bills, down five points from 2022. The Healthcare Affordability Index is produced by West Health — a group of nonprofit organizations — and polling firm Gallup.” Ian Randall, “U.S. Health Care Now Unaffordable for Nearly Half of Americans,” Newsweek.
