Summary

According to a survey of more than 1,400 Connecticut adults conducted from July 18 to July 30, 2025 many residents have had inconsistent experiences accessing and affording the health care system in the past year. Among those respondents:

• Nearly 2 in 3 (64%) experienced at least one health care affordability burden in the past year;

• Nearly 3 in 4 (74%) worry about affording health care in the future;
• 63% are not confident they have enough money to cover the cost of major unexpected illness or injury in their households;
• 58% are not confident they have enough health insurance coverage to cover the cost of a major unexpected illness or injury in their households; and
• Respondents living in households that include a person with a physical or cognitive impairment ration medication due to cost more frequently than respondents living in households without a person with a physical or cognitive impairment (30% versus 21%); delay or go without care due to cost more frequently (77% versus 56%); and experience more cost burdens due to medical bills (56% versus 31%).

Variations in Health Care Affordability Between Households

Factors like household income and composition impact how a person navigates the health care system. For example, Connecticut respondents in households earning less than $50,000 a year reported experiencing a health care affordability burden more frequently than wealthier households (see Table 1). The median household income in Connecticut in 2023 was $91,665.¹

Respondents that earn less than $50,000 annually also more frequently reported experiencing a cost burden due to medical bills, like incurring medical debt, depleting savings, or sacrificing basic needs like food, heat, or housing compared to those earning $100,000 or more annually (48% versus 27%). Still, over half of respondents living in higher income households also faced affordability issues, indicating that these burdens affect all income groups. At least 65% of respondents across all income levels expressed concern about affording health care now or in the future.

Similar to income, household composition can also influence the types of challenges that people are exposed to when navigating the health care system. People with a physical or cognitive impairment, for instance, interact with the health care system more often than others, which frequently results in greater out-of-pocket costs.² Connecticut respondents with a physical or cognitive impairment, or who live with a person with a physical or cognitive impairment, reported experiencing an affordability burden or concern more frequently than other respondents (see Table 2).

Additionally, 13% of respondents with a physical or cognitive impairment, or who live with a person with a physical or cognitive impairment, reported that they or their household member delayed getting a medical assistive device such as a wheelchair, cane, walker, hearing aid, or prosthetic limb due to cost, compared to only 3% of respondents without a physical or cognitive impairment who may have required one of these tools for temporary support.³

Variations in Health Care Affordability Between Demographic Groups

Research has shown that demographic differences persist in self-reported health status, access and affordability.⁴ This survey also revealed variations in reported affordability burdens between demographic groups. For example, Connecticut respondents with a Bachelor’s or graduate degree reported experiencing a health care affordability burden less frequently than respondents with lower educational attainment. In contrast, respondents without a formal education beyond a high school diploma or GED reported experiencing a health care affordability burden (72%), and a health care cost burden due to medical bills (42%) more frequently than other respondents (see Table 3).

Likewise, respondents of color reported higher rates of many affordability burdens compared to white alone, non-Hispanic respondents (see Table 4). A small share of respondents also reported unique challenges to care that were unique to their backgrounds. Thirty-two (2% of) respondents reported not getting needed medical care because they couldn’t find a doctor of the same background as them and thirty (3% of) respondents reported not getting needed care because they couldn’t find a doctor who spoke their language.  

Differences in the frequency of reported health care affordability burdens and concerns by sex also emerged in the survey results (see Table 5). Women reported higher rates of experiencing at least one affordability burden in the past year (66% versus 63%); more frequently reported delaying or forgoing care due to cost; and reported higher rates of rationing medications by not filling prescriptions, skipping doses, or cutting pills in half. Although many respondents expressed concerns about health care costs, a higher percentage of female respondents reported being worried about affording some aspect of coverage or care compared to male respondents (80% versus 69%), although a slightly higher percentage of male respondents reported experiencing a cost burden due to medical bills (39% versus 36%).

Respondents that identify as sexually diverse also experienced affordability burdens, with 28% reporting rationing medication due to cost compared to 22% of respondents that are not a part of a sexual minority group (see Table 6). Members of these communities experience higher rates of disability and encounter unique challenges accessing health care and medications.^5,6,7

Over three in every four (79% of) Connecticut respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the U.S. health care system needs to change. Interestingly, there is bipartisan support for government-led solutions for more information on the types of strategies Connecticut residents support, see: Connecticut Residents Struggle to Afford High Health Care Costs; Worry about Affording Health Care in the Future; Support Government Action across Party Lines, Healthcare Value Hub, Data Brief (September 2025).