The rapid rise in health care costs is forcing many Americans to make tough choices. Nearly 6 in 10 patients have skipped or delayed medical care because of the cost, and the same percentage has had difficulty paying a medical bill in full or on time, a new survey from the health care finance company Alphaeon found.
“Too often, cost stands between patients, their dependents and pets, and the care they need,” said Thomas Ervesun, the company’s CEO. “Pricing shouldn’t deter people from getting care. While health care providers might not be able to lower prices, they can do more to make paying for care easier.”
Nearly 9 in 10 survey respondents said they would like to have an easier way to pay medical bills, and 60% said they have paid with a credit card. Despite 62% of respondents saying they were aware that some providers offer patient financing, only half have a general idea of how it works and just 18% said they understand it.
More than half would be extremely or somewhat likely to use patient financing offered by a provider and strongly or somewhat agree with the statement that “patient financing makes health care more affordable and accessible.”
The leading types of care they would most like to be able to finance are:
- Dental, 70%
- Veterinary, 33%
- Cosmetic, 18%
- Audiology, 9%
- Other, 21.2%
“Health care has not been as innovative or patient-friendly as other industries in its approach to financing,” Ervesun said. “Offering third-party financing not only makes it possible for patients to get necessary care when they need it but also improves revenue for practices while strengthening patient loyalty.”
A 2025 survey of health care costs found similar results. More than one-third of insured U.S. adults said they had skipped or postponed necessary medical care or medications in the past 12 months because of cost, according to Imagine360. Among respondents, 38% said they delayed or skipped care because of cost, a 41% increase over the 27% reported in 2023 in a separate study.
“Businesses across the country are faced with the daunting task of either passing increasing health care costs to their employees or making significant cuts to other business expenses,” Jeff Bak, CEO and president of Imagine360. “The survey indicates that rising costs lead to Americans not accessing the care they need or leaving their place of employment to find affordable health benefits.”