With so many people being forced to choose between rent, groceries and healthcare, a new study survey found healthcare is often losing out. A 2026 survey from eHealth found 64 percent of those polled say inflation has made it harder to afford basics like food, housing and clothing. The financial pressures are causing many Americans to make difficult decisions about their medical care.
Medicare recipients are especially finding it challenging to afford healthcare. Judith Waseka came to Let's Hear It in Vero Beach and shared her struggles. She said even with supplemental help, she and her husband are having a hard time affording their prescription drugs. The costs have forced them into impossible choices about their daily living expenses.
"You either eat or you pay for your medication, or you sell your house or you pay for your medication," Waseka said. Her experience reflects a broader trend affecting millions of Americans who are struggling to balance essential expenses. The rising costs of medications and medical services are creating significant hardship for those on fixed incomes.
Forty-two percent of those polled say they've skipped or delayed medical care in the past year because of inflation, according to the eHealth study. The survey reveals the stark reality facing many households as they navigate the competing demands of housing, food and healthcare costs. These difficult choices highlight the growing financial strain on families and individuals, particularly those in retirement or on limited budgets.