The cost of healthcare in the United States is a significant source of apprehension and fear for millions of Americans, according to a new national survey conducted by West Health and Gallup. With over $3.5 trillion—nearly one-fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product — spent in 2017 alone, the national poll indicates this financial burden causes a multitude of worries and anxieties for a large segment of American adults.

These findings were published in a report titled “The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis,” based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,500 American adults on the impact of the high cost of healthcare on personal finances, individual healthcare choices and the level of satisfaction with the U.S. healthcare system.

Relative to the quality of the care they receive, the study revealed that Americans overwhelmingly agree they pay too much, receive too little, and have little confidence that elected officials can solve the problem.  Americans in large numbers are borrowing money, skipping treatments and cutting back on household expenses because of high costs, and a large percentage fear a major health event could bankrupt them.

More than three-quarters of Americans are also concerned that high healthcare costs could cause significant and lasting damage to the U.S. economy.  Despite the financial burden and fears caused by high healthcare costs, partisan filters lead to divergent views of the healthcare system at large: By a wide margin, more Republicans than Democrats consider the quality of care in the U.S. to be the best or among the best in the world — all while the U.S. significantly outspends other advanced economies on healthcare with dismal outcomes on basic health indicators such as infant mortality and heart attack mortality.

Republicans and Democrats are about as likely to resort to drastic measures, from deferring care to cutting back on other expenses including groceries, clothing, and gas and electricity. And many do not see the situation improving.  In fact, most believe costs will only increase. When given the choice between a freeze in healthcare costs for the next five years or a 10% increase in household income, 61% of Americans report that their preference is a freeze in costs.  Other key survey findings include:

77% of Americans are concerned rising costs will significantly damage the U.S. economy.

76% expect their costs for healthcare will increase even further in the next two years.

15 million Americans have deferred purchasing prescription drugs in the past year due to cost.

Nearly 3 million borrowed $10,000 or more to pay for healthcare in the past year.

Only about one-third report that doctors discuss costs with them in advance of procedures, tests or treatment plans, or for medicine required to treat their conditions.

The New York Times published an article titled, “Americans Borrowed $88 Billion to Pay for Health Care Last Year, Survey Finds,” that provides an in-depth analysis of the survey. In the piece, reporter Karen Zraick notes that West Health and Gallup will conduct similar studies going forward.