Nearly Half of Americans Struggled to Afford Healthcare Last Year—Why Access Matters More Than Ever
In a recent national survey, nearly half of working-age adults reported difficulty affording healthcare in 2025. Even more concerning, more than one-third said that they or a family member went without needed medical care because of the cost.
These findings confirm what many families already know firsthand: having health insurance does not always mean healthcare is affordable.
At Aslan Health, we see this reality every day.
When Insurance Doesn’t Mean Access
For many people, the challenge is not whether they have insurance. The challenge is whether they can afford to use it.
A patient may have:
- A high-deductible employer-sponsored plan
- Marketplace insurance with significant out-of-pocket costs
- Copays that make routine visits difficult to afford
- Prescription costs that strain the family budget
As a result, many delay care, skip medications, postpone testing, or wait until a health problem becomes severe before seeking help.
Unfortunately, delaying care often leads to worse health outcomes and higher costs later.
The Hidden Cost of Delayed Care
When healthcare becomes unaffordable, families face impossible choices. A medical appointment may compete with the monthly utility bill. A prescription refill may mean less money available for groceries. Preventive care is often postponed in hopes that a problem will resolve on its own. These decisions are rarely made lightly, but they can have serious consequences for health and financial stability.
Many of the people facing these decisions are employed, raising families, and doing everything they can to make ends meet. Yet healthcare expenses continue to outpace household budgets.
What We See at Aslan Health
Over the past two years, Aslan Health has served more than 2,500 patients across Central Minnesota.
Many of those patients were uninsured. Others had insurance but still struggled to afford care because of deductibles, copays, or gaps in coverage.
We have cared for patients who:
- Delayed treatment because they were worried about the cost
- Went years without a primary care provider
- Needed help finding affordable medications
- Faced language barriers while navigating the healthcare system
- Were unsure where to turn for care
Behind every patient encounter is a story. Often, the biggest obstacle is not a medical condition—it is access.
Removing Barriers to Care
At Aslan Health, our mission is to remove barriers that prevent people from receiving the care they need.
We work to make healthcare more accessible through:
- Transparent pricing
- Affordable primary care visits
- Same-day and walk-in access
- Evening and weekend hours
- Spanish-language services
- Low-cost laboratory testing
- Assistance accessing affordable medications through programs such as Round Table Rx
- Partnerships with community organizations that help address social and practical barriers to care
Healthcare should not be complicated, confusing, or financially overwhelming.
A Community Response to a Community Need
The healthcare affordability crisis cannot be solved by any one clinic or organization. However, communities can come together to ensure that neighbors do not fall through the cracks.
Every patient served at Aslan Health is possible because of the support of donors, volunteers, churches, community partners, and healthcare professionals who believe that affordable healthcare matters.
Together, we are helping individuals and families receive care before small problems become major crises.
Looking Ahead
The recent survey serves as a reminder that healthcare affordability remains one of the most significant challenges facing Americans today.
Behind every statistic is a person. A parent delaying a visit. A worker rationing medication. A family trying to balance healthcare expenses with other essential needs.
At Aslan Health, we believe that access to healthcare should not depend on a person’s income, insurance status, or ability to navigate a complex system.
As we continue serving our community, we remain committed to providing affordable, compassionate healthcare to those who need it most.
Because when people can access care, families are healthier, communities are stronger, and lives are changed.