Workers delay care as health costs surge, ADP reports
NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES — Rising healthcare costs are prompting more workers to delay or forgo medical care, a trend that could ripple across the United States healthcare system and strain providers already navigating tight margins and shifting patient behaviors, according to a new survey from ADP.
The report found that 26% of workers skipped needed medical care due to out-of-pocket costs, up from 21% in 2020, while 22% said they reduced or stopped taking medications.
Another 15% declined vision or dental coverage to afford medical insurance—signals of growing financial pressure that may ultimately reshape patient volumes and care delivery across hospitals and clinics.
Delayed care threatens provider stability and patient outcomes
For healthcare providers, delayed care often translates into more acute cases arriving later—and at higher cost. Preventive visits, screenings and early interventions typically serve as a buffer against expensive treatments, but those safeguards weaken when patients opt out.
ADP noted that the trend “points to the need for simpler plan design, clearer education and flexible options that reflect different budget preferences,” adding that “employers can play a stronger role in helping employees make cost-conscious choices without compromising care.”
Hospitals and clinics may increasingly see patients presenting with advanced conditions that require more complex interventions, placing additional strain on clinical resources and care teams.
At the same time, inconsistent patient volumes—driven by cost-related hesitation—can disrupt revenue cycles and forecasting.
The shift also coincides with employers passing on more healthcare costs to workers through higher deductibles and contributions, a move that providers indirectly feel as patients become more selective about when and where they seek care.
Digital health and outsourcing emerge as coping strategies
As traditional care becomes less accessible, workers are turning elsewhere. ADP found that 68% of employees rely on the internet for medical advice, while 27% are using generative AI tools.
At the same time, many are leaning into preventive habits, including “mindfulness, food choices, and exercise,” in an effort to manage their health independently.
For providers, this growing reliance on digital channels presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Misinformation risks may rise, but so does the demand for virtual care, patient education and digital engagement strategies.
Operationally, the pressure to manage rising costs while maintaining access could accelerate interest in outsourcing non-clinical functions such as billing, administrative support and patient communication.
By offloading back-office tasks, health systems may be better positioned to invest in frontline care and patient outreach—particularly as more patients delay treatment until conditions worsen.
Ultimately, while workers attempt to cope with rising healthcare costs, the long-term burden may shift to providers. Delayed care, if left unaddressed, risks driving higher treatment costs and more complex caseloads—underscoring the need for more proactive, cost-sensitive care models across the U.S. healthcare landscape.
