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Struggling Affordability of Medicines Affects an Increasing Number of Americans

Majority of Americans Struggle with Prescription Costs, Forcing Difficult Choices or Resorting to Potentially Dangerous options.

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Growing numbers of Americans face challenges covering their prescription medication costs
Growing numbers of Americans face challenges covering their prescription medication costs

Struggling Affordability of Medicines Affects an Increasing Number of Americans

In 2025, the cost of prescription medications continued to be a pressing issue for numerous Americans, affecting their lifestyles and financial decisions. Key findings from various surveys and studies reveal the extent of this challenge.

One of the most striking revelations is that a substantial majority, 67% of Americans, view prescription costs as a financial burden[2]. This perception has led to increased concerns about affording medications, with 38% of people worried about being able to pay for their prescriptions, up from 27% in 2024[2].

The financial strain of prescription costs has led many Americans to make lifestyle sacrifices. In 2025, 46% of Americans reported taking actions that negatively impacted their lifestyle or personal finances, such as cutting back on leisure activities[2][4]. This represents a significant increase from 37% in 2024[4].

Prescription drug costs now rank higher than concerns about housing, food, and transportation for many Americans, indicating a shift in financial priorities[2]. The financial pressure has led some individuals to seek risky alternatives or skip doses, potentially compromising their health[2].

Efforts to address the issue include the Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing executive order and initiatives by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which aim to reduce costs by aligning U.S. drug prices with international standards and providing essential medications at lower costs to low-income patients[1][3]. However, these initiatives face legal and industry challenges[1].

In 2025, 38% of people said they used discount programs to help manage their prescription costs, while 12.9% replaced prescriptions with over-the-counter medications or supplements[4]. Furthermore, 40% of respondents received free samples directly from their clinician[4].

However, the situation is far from ideal. Almost 1 in 5 reported rationing their medications due to cost, and 13% stopped taking a medication entirely[4]. In addition, 28% of people reduced spending on food or clothing to cover the cost of treatment[4].

The situation is particularly dire for those with medical debt. According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, almost 1 in 12 Americans have medical debt, with the cost of prescription medications contributing to the problem[5].

In conclusion, the ongoing struggle with prescription medication affordability in 2025 continues to strain the financial and social well-being of many Americans. With the increased worry about affording medications and the significant lifestyle sacrifices being made, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue.

References: [1] White House. (2021). Fact Sheet: President Biden's Plan to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Health Care Costs. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/08/fact-sheet-president-bidens-plan-to-lower-drug-prices-and-reduce-health-care-costs/ [2] Kaiser Family Foundation. (2025). Prescription Drug Costs: A Barrier to Care for Many Americans. https://www.kff.org/report-section/prescription-drug-costs-a-barrier-to-care-for-many-americans/ [3] Health Resources and Services Administration. (2025). 340B Drug Pricing Program. https://www.hrsa.gov/opa/340b/index.html [4] Gallup. (2025). Americans' Concerns About Affording Prescription Drugs Reach an All-Time High. https://news.gallup.com/poll/393756/americans-concerns-affording-prescription-drugs-reach-all-time-high.aspx [5] Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. (2024). Medical Debt in America. https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/medical-debt-in-america/

  1. The financial impact of prescription medications in 2025 indicates a pressing concern for Americans, influencing both their lifestyles and financial decisions.
  2. A staggering 67% of Americans view prescription costs as a significant financial burden, leading to increased worries about affordability.
  3. The financial strain of prescription medications has led many Americans to make sacrifices in their lifestyle and personal finances, as 46% reported doing so in 2025.
  4. Prescription drug costs have surpassed concerns about housing, food, and transportation for a number of Americans, signifying a shift in financial priorities.
  5. The financial pressure has driven some individuals to resort to risky alternatives or skip doses, potentially compromising their health.
  6. The Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing executive order and initiatives by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aim to address the issue by reducing costs and providing essential medications at lower prices.
  7. However, these efforts face legal and industry challenges, making a substantial impact uncertain.
  8. In 2025, 38% of people used discount programs to help manage their prescription costs, and 12.9% replaced prescriptions with over-the-counter medications or supplements.
  9. A concerning 40% of respondents received free samples from their clinician, while almost 1 in 5 reported rationing medications due to cost, and 13% stopped taking a medication entirely.
  10. The problem of medical debt is prevalent, with almost 1 in 12 Americans burdened by it, and the cost of prescription medications contributing to the issue.
  11. With mental, health-and-wellness, men's-health, women's-health, skin-care, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, cardiovascular-health, respiratory-conditions, chronic-diseases, cancers, neurological-disorders, and autoimmune-disorders being common medical conditions, affordability is a crucial factor in treatment.
  12. The affordability of therapies-and-treatments, nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, wealth-management, personal-finance, and education-and-self-development are also significant concerns for many Americans in managing their overall health and career development.
  13. Parenting, as an essential aspect of life, can be affected by the financial strain of prescription medication costs, impacting the health and well-being of families.
  14. Addressing prescription medication affordability remains a critical issue in 2025, requiring ongoing efforts and innovative solutions to alleviate the financial and social burdens it places on Americans.

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