Access to Healthcare

Many U.S. adults have trouble affording health care costs. While lower income and uninsured adults are the most likely to report this, those with health insurance and those with higher incomes are not immune to the high cost of medical care. About half of U.S. adults say that it is very or somewhat difficult for them to afford their health care costs (47%). Among those under age 65, uninsured adults are much more likely to say affording health care costs is difficult (85%) compared to those with health insurance coverage (47%). Additionally, at least six in ten Black adults (60%) and Hispanic adults (65%) report difficulty affording health care costs compared to about four in ten White adults (39%). Adults in households with annual incomes under $40,000 are more than three times as likely as adults in households with incomes over $90,000 to say it is difficult to afford their health care costs (69% v. 21%).

(Source: KFF Health Care Debt Survey: Feb.-Mar. 2022)

Fast Facts

In a 2021 survey commissioned by the state’s Health Policy Commission, 46% of Massachusetts adults said they delayed or skipped care due to cost, and three in four residents were worried about being able to afford healthcare in the future.
In 2022, 41% of Massachusetts families struggle to afford health care.
Three-quarters of Hispanic residents, and 78% of Black residents with low family incomes reported having continuous health insurance coverage over the last year or more, compared with more than 90% of white residents.

Learn more about access to healthcare

Massachusetts residents and businesses face unsustainable growth in health care costs

The HPC’s 10th annual Health Care Cost Trends Report urges updates to advance cost containment, affordability, and health equity.

Cost of Health Care

Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states for health care, and costs continue to rise. Escalating health care costs cause financial burdens for patients and reduce access to preventive, longitudinal care.

Massachusetts Residents Struggle to Afford High Healthcare Costs; Worry About Affording Care, Leading to Support for Government Actions to Address High Healthcare Costs

Like many Americans, Massachusetts adults currently experience hardship due to high healthcare costs. More than half of Massachusetts adults experienced some challenge of affording high healthcare costs.

Black and Hispanic Mass. residents face disparities with health care access, report finds

Black and Hispanic residents in Massachusetts struggle to pay medical bills, find it harder to access doctor appointments and have patchier health coverage than their white counterparts.

Why Health Care Is Harder to Access in Rural America

More than 60 million Americans—about one-fifth of the U.S. population—live in rural areas. On average, rural residents are older and generally have worse health conditions than urban residents. But while they may require more medical attention and care, they also might have more limited access to health care.

How to Improve Access to Health Care: Issues & Potential Solutions

Many in the United States do not have ready access to health care — and the barriers they face are not of their own making. Between high insurance costs, inadequate transportation systems and appointment availability issues, potential patients often encounter insurmountable obstacles to the health care they need and deserve.

Five key barriers to healthcare access in the United States

To address systemic inequity, health systems need to confront and overcome several healthcare barriers to patients receiving quality and equitable care.

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