Unmet healthcare needs in the U.S. - Statistic & Facts

Unmet healthcare needs, defined as the difference between the healthcare services deemed necessary and those actually received, are an important measure of healthcare accessibility. An international study compared the healthcare systems of 11 high-income countries, and the U.S. emerged as having the most costly and inefficient healthcare system. Furthermore, the U.S. had the worst ranking in every cost-related access measure. The findings were consistent with numerous U.S. polls that emphasized the difficulty that many Americans have in paying for and receiving needed health care. In 2022, nearly three out of ten U.S. adults forewent some form of needed medical care for serious health conditions due to cost reasons in the past year. Various socioeconomic, demographic, and regional factors are also related to barriers to healthcare access and affordability. The likelihood of U.S. adults reporting unmet needs owing to healthcare costs was higher in non-expansion Medicaid states, and the disparity between racial groups was even larger.

Reasons for unmet medical needs

Unmet healthcare needs can arise from a range of complex circumstances, such as personal preference, financial constraints, or a lack of resources, and each of these factors implies a distinct policy approach. Excessive treatment expenses, long waiting times to receive care, being unable to take time off work or caring for children or others, or having to travel too far to receive care are some of the most common reasons given by Americans for unmet care. Cost-cutting is particularly common among lower-income groups and the uninsured population. Medical debt, limited health insurance coverage, and expensive out-of-pocket expenses are significant obstacles to seeking timely medical care. Although, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) adoption did bring much-needed relief to millions of Americans by lowering the uninsured rate to a record low in 2022. One issue it has not been able to address is the excessive costs of health care in the U.S. by introducing and enacting regulations similar to those used in other nations to manage healthcare spending.

Unmet mental health needs

Nearly one in five Americans today is living with a mental health condition, making it a widespread health issue in the country. The prevalence of mental illness in the U.S. is significantly higher among females and young adults. Over a quarter of U.S. college students have been diagnosed with depression and a further 33 percent with anxiety. According to the most recent Mental Health America (MHA) research, more than half of U.S. adults who have a mental illness go without treatment. The study also revealed increased disparities in mental healthcare service availability and utilization across different U.S. states. Over 5.5 million Americans with mental disorders are uninsured. Uninsured adults are more likely to forgo needed medical care. For many people with mental illnesses who reported having unmet needs for mental health treatment, the cost of care continues to be a substantial barrier.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Share of Hispanic adult population with unmet medical needs in the U.S.: 53%

Share of U.S. adults who delayed dental services: 35%

Share of HRSA funded health center patients with unmet medical needs: 7%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of people without health insurance in the United States from 1997 to 2022 (in millions)

Health System

Number of people in the U.S. without health insurance 1997-2022

Percentage of U.S. population who delayed medical care for very or somewhat serious conditions due to cost in selected years between 2001 and 2022, by age

Health System

U.S. population with delayed or not received medical care due to cost 2001-2022

Share of health services people delayed or avoided due to costs in the past year in the United States as of 2022

Health Economics

Types of health services people delayed or avoided due to costs in the U.S. in 2022

Recommended statistics

Overview

Premium Statistic U.S. population who had to forgo medical care due to cost 2000-2022
U.S. population who had to forgo medical care due to cost 2000-2022
Share of U.S. population who went without needed medical care due to cost in the U.S. between 2013 and 2022
Basic Statistic Types of healthcare services cut back on to pay household expenses in the U.S. 2022
Types of healthcare services cut back on to pay household expenses in the U.S. 2022
Share of healthcare services delayed or avoided in the last 12 months to afford household expenses in the United States 2022
Premium Statistic Types of health services people delayed or avoided due to costs in the U.S. in 2022
Types of health services people delayed or avoided due to costs in the U.S. in 2022
Share of health services people delayed or avoided due to costs in the past year in the United States as of 2022
Premium Statistic American adults who had to forgo medical care due to cost in 2023, by insurance type
American adults who had to forgo medical care due to cost in 2023, by insurance type
Share of nonelderly adults who went without needed medical care due to cost in the U.S. in 2023, by health insurance coverage
Premium Statistic Share of patients with unmet healthcare needs in the U.S. in 2019, by source of care
Share of patients with unmet healthcare needs in the U.S. in 2019, by source of care
Share of patients who had unmet or delayed healthcare needs in the United States in 2019, by source of care
Basic Statistic U.S. workers with employer insurance who skipped health care due to cost, 2018
U.S. workers with employer insurance who skipped health care due to cost, 2018
Share of U.S. workers with employer-sponsored health insurance who said they or a family member skipped health care or drug prescriptions (Rx) due to cost as of 2018

Uninsured

Premium Statistic Share of total U.S. population without health insurance in 2021, by state
Share of total U.S. population without health insurance in 2021, by state
Percentage of the total U.S. population without health insurance in 2021, by state
Premium Statistic Percentage and rate of uninsured U.S. adult workers 2022, by industry
Percentage and rate of uninsured U.S. adult workers 2022, by industry
Percentage and rate of adult workers without health insurance in the U.S. in 2022, by industry*
Premium Statistic Uninsured U.S. adult women in 2022 by age
Uninsured U.S. adult women in 2022 by age
Number of adult women without health insurance in the U.S. in 2022, by age (in millions)
Basic Statistic Uninsured rate of U.S. non-elderly population by age 2022
Uninsured rate of U.S. non-elderly population by age 2022
Proportion of of non-elderly people without health insurance in the U.S. in 2022, by age
Basic Statistic Uninsured U.S. children percentage and rate by age 2022
Uninsured U.S. children percentage and rate by age 2022
Percentage and rate of children without health insurance in the U.S. in 2022, by age group
Basic Statistic Share of uninsured U.S. children eligible for health coverage by eligibility 2020
Share of uninsured U.S. children eligible for health coverage by eligibility 2020
Distribution of children without health insurance who are eligible for health coverage in the U.S. in 2020, by eligibility status

Non-eldely population

Basic Statistic Delaying medical treatment due to cost U.S. 2001-2023
Delaying medical treatment due to cost U.S. 2001-2023
Within the last twelve months, have you or a member of your family put off any sort of medical treatment because of the cost you would have to pay? (U.S. 2001-2023)
Basic Statistic Adults who delayed health care due to costs U.S. 2020, by political orientation
Adults who delayed health care due to costs U.S. 2020, by political orientation
Percentage of adults who delayed or forewent necessary health care due to costs in the U.S. in 2020, by political orientation
Premium Statistic Share of healthcare debt-related barriers to accessing care in the U.S. in 2022
Share of healthcare debt-related barriers to accessing care in the U.S. in 2022
Share of adults with health care debt and health care debt-related barriers to accessing care in the U.S. in 2022
Basic Statistic Leading reasons for dropping health coverage in the U.S. in 2022
Leading reasons for dropping health coverage in the U.S. in 2022
What was the main reason you lost or dropped coverage?
Basic Statistic Leading reasons for not purchasing health coverage in the U.S. in 2022
Leading reasons for not purchasing health coverage in the U.S. in 2022
What was the main reason you did not buy a plan?

Senior citizens

Premium Statistic Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Share of people aged 65 years and above who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Premium Statistic Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by race
Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by race
Share of people aged 65 years and above who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by race
Premium Statistic Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by income
Share of senior citizens who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by income
Share of people aged 65 years and above who avoided care due to costs in the U.S. in 2021, by income
Basic Statistic Share of older adults forgoing health care due to cost worldwide 2021
Share of older adults forgoing health care due to cost worldwide 2021
Percentage of adults aged 65 and older who skipped doctor visit or medical test/treatment due to cost in the past year in select high-income countries in 2021

Veterans

Basic Statistic Types of barriers to VA care reported by U.S. veterans with the WWP as of 2022
Types of barriers to VA care reported by U.S. veterans with the WWP as of 2022
Barriers to VA care reported by U.S. veterans and active service members of the Wounded Warrior Project as of 2022*
Basic Statistic Veterans without health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2021, by income
Veterans without health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2021, by income
Share of U.S. veterans without health insurance coverage in 2021, by income
Premium Statistic Main barriers to access primary health care reported by veterans in the U.S. in 2021
Main barriers to access primary health care reported by veterans in the U.S. in 2021
Share of veterans who reported the following issues to be the biggest barriers to seeking primary health care at the nearest provider reported in the U.S in 2021
Basic Statistic Treatment gap for mental health and substance use disorder among veterans U.S. 2021
Treatment gap for mental health and substance use disorder among veterans U.S. 2021
Percentage of U.S. veterans who did not receive treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder in the past year as of 2021

Unmet healthcare needs by sexuality

Premium Statistic Unmet health care needs due to costs in the U.S. in 2022. by sexuality
Unmet health care needs due to costs in the U.S. in 2022. by sexuality
Share of people who postponed or did not try to get necessary medical care or preventive screenings in the past year due to costs in the U.S. in 2022, by sexuality and demography
Premium Statistic Unmet health care needs due to discrimination in the U.S. in 2022, by sexuality
Unmet health care needs due to discrimination in the U.S. in 2022, by sexuality
Share of people who postponed or did not try to get necessary medical care or preventive screenings due to discrimination in the U.S. in 2022, by sexuality and demography
Premium Statistic LGBTQ+ people who encountered refusals by health care providers in the U.S. 2022
LGBTQ+ people who encountered refusals by health care providers in the U.S. 2022
Share of LGBTQ+ people who experienced various types of health care refusals by health care providers in the past year in the U.S. as of 2022, by sexuality and race
Premium Statistic Transgender people who encountered refusals by health care providers in the U.S. 2022
Transgender people who encountered refusals by health care providers in the U.S. 2022
Share of transgender people who experienced health care refusals by health care providers in the past year in the U.S. as of 2022, by race

Focus- Unmet mental health needs

Premium Statistic Adults who had unmet needs for mental health treatment in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Adults who had unmet needs for mental health treatment in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Share of adults with any mental illness who reported unmet need for required treatment in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Premium Statistic Share of adults with metal illness who are uninsured in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Share of adults with metal illness who are uninsured in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Share of adults with any mental illness among those who are uninsured in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Basic Statistic Share of reasons women in U.S. could not access mental health services in 2022
Share of reasons women in U.S. could not access mental health services in 2022
Distribution of reasons women in the U.S. could not get an appointment for needed mental health care in the past two years as of 2022
Premium Statistic Youth who had unmet needs for major depression in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Youth who had unmet needs for major depression in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Share of young people with major depression who reported unmet need for required treatment in the U.S. in 2022, by state
Premium Statistic Share of children unable to receive mental health care in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Share of children unable to receive mental health care in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Share of children who could not receive or found it difficult to get care for their mental health needs in the U.S. in 2021, by state
Premium Statistic Employee access to mental health services at work in the U.S. 2022
Employee access to mental health services at work in the U.S. 2022
Does your employer provide easily accessible mental health support services for employees?
Basic Statistic Treatment gap among U.S. women with substance use and mental disorders in 2022
Treatment gap among U.S. women with substance use and mental disorders in 2022
Percentage of U.S. women who did not receive treatment for select substance use and mental disorders in the past year as of 2022
Basic Statistic Barriers to mood disorder treatments for U.S. adults as of 2021
Barriers to mood disorder treatments for U.S. adults as of 2021
Percentage of U.S. adults diagnosed with a mood disorder reporting select barriers to trying a treatment of their interest as of 2021

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