High Prices Force Millions to Skip Medical Care, Delay Major Spending, Survey Shows

Americans are facing growing pressure from rising prices across key areas of daily life, according to a national survey published by Politico

Nearly half of respondents said they find groceries, utilities, health care, housing, and transportation difficult to afford, while more than a quarter — 27%— reported skipping a medical check-up due to cost in the past two years. 23% said they had skipped doses of prescribed medication.

Financial concerns are also affecting discretionary spending, the survey also found, as 37% of Americans said they could not afford to attend a professional sports event with family or friends and 46% said they could not pay for a vacation that requires air travel.

President Donald Trump has argued the economy is improving, giving himself an "A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus" grade in an interview with Politico published earlier in the week. "Prices are all coming down," he said. But the survey suggests public perception remains strained, including among some Trump voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The data shows skepticism over one of the administration's key economic policies. Only 36 percent of Trump voters said tariffs may hurt the economy now but will benefit the country over time, while just 22 percent said tariffs are helping both in the short and long term.

Views were similarly divided on higher education costs. Sixty-two percent of Americans said college is not worth the cost, a belief shared by more than half of respondents who hold a degree. Both parties have proposed alternatives such as expanded technical programs and cost-control measures tied to universities' federal funding.

Grocery prices emerged as the top affordability concern. Fifty percent of respondents said buying food is difficult, and 55 percent blamed the Trump administration for high grocery costs. Among Trump voters, 22 percent said the president bears responsibility.

Housing followed closely. Respondents said homebuying and rent costs are among the most challenging expenses to manage, especially for young and Hispanic adults. Ten percent of MAGA Republicans said the administration is responsible — compared with 31 percent of non-MAGA Republicans.

Health care remains a major point of strain: nearly half of adults surveyed said coverage is difficult to afford. Forty-two percent of respondents said they trust Democrats more to lower health care costs, compared with 33 percent who trust Republicans.

The results highlight how financial pressures are shaping political attitudes, particularly as Republicans prepare to defend their congressional majority in 2026.