Increasing Number of Americans Face Financial Hurdles in Devoting to Essential Medications
In the face of escalating prescription drug costs, Americans are adopting a variety of innovative—and at times, potentially risky—methods to afford essential medications. A recent survey reveals that 38% of Americans used a prescription discount card or coupon in 2025, while 43% resorted to discount programs to manage their expenses.
Unfortunately, these cost-cutting measures have not been enough to alleviate the burden entirely. In 2025, 25% of Americans took on credit card debt due to healthcare costs, marking an increase from 22% the previous year. Moreover, 13% of people stopped taking a medication entirely, a significant jump from 8% in 2024.
The financial strain has led many Americans to make sacrifices in other areas of life. Nearly 30% reported cutting back on spending for food or clothing to pay for their prescriptions, while 18% borrowed money from friends or family.
In response to these challenges, both government and health centers are implementing programs to provide critical medications at affordable prices, particularly for low-income patients. For instance, the HRSA-funded health centers are required to offer insulin and injectable epinephrine at or below cost through mechanisms like the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
However, these policy-driven solutions are not the only strategies Americans are employing. Informal networks sometimes share medications, patients purchase from international or online pharmacies, and many seek out manufacturer discounts, coupons, or free drug programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
While these strategies can provide temporary relief, they often carry risks, such as reduced treatment efficacy, safety concerns, or legal exposure. The most durable solutions may ultimately require structural reforms, such as changes to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, FDA biosimilar policies, or direct government negotiation of drug prices.
According to a GoodRx Research survey, 67% of Americans who filled a prescription described the cost of their medication as a burden. As the need for affordable prescriptions continues to grow, both individual ingenuity and calls for deeper policy change are expected to persist.
- The escalating costs of prescription drugs have led to a surge in innovative methods among Americans to afford essential medications, such as using prescription discount cards or coupons, and joining discount programs.
- In 2025, 25% of Americans accrued credit card debt due to healthcare costs, a 3% increase from the previous year, revealing the ongoing financial burden.
- The situation is grave, with 13% of people stopping their medication entirely in 2025, compared to 8% the year before, highlighting the critical need for affordable treatments.
- To cope with these financial strains, Americans are making sacrifices, including cutting back on spending for food or clothing, and borrowing money from friends or family.
- Government and health centers are addressing this issue by providing critical medications at affordable prices, especially for low-income patients, through programs like the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
- However, Americans are also relying on informal networks, purchasing from international or online pharmacies, and seeking out manufacturer discounts or free drug programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
- These strategies offer short-term relief, but they can potentially pose risks, such as reduced treatment efficacy, safety concerns, or legal exposure.
- Structural reforms, such as changes to pharmacy benefit manager practices, FDA biosimilar policies, or direct government negotiation of drug prices, may provide the most enduring solutions.
- A GoodRx Research survey reported that 67% of Americans found the cost of their medication to be a burden, underlining the growing demand for affordable prescriptions.
- The need for affordable prescription drugs will likely persist, driving both individual ingenuity and calls for deeper policy changes, while general news, crime and justice, politics, health and wellness, mental health, fitness and exercise, nutrition, cardiovascular health, medicine, personal finance, wealth management, and policy and legislation continue to discuss the issue.
