Providing individuals with primary medical care is the foundation for healthy living. Without diagnosis and management of mild to moderate chronic diseases, individuals become medically distressed at any age, young or old. Healthcare impacts lives beyond unnecessary pain and illness. National studies show that productivity loss due to sickness costs businesses millions of dollars every year.

An estimated 112 million (44%) American adults are struggling to pay for healthcare, and more than double that number (93%) feel that what they do pay is not worth the cost. The findings come from two new composite scores developed by the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization West Health and Gallup, the global analytics and advice firm, to assess the healthcare cost crisis. According to the Healthcare Affordability Index, respondents are considered “cost desperate” if they report experiencing three key financial challenges:

1. Unable to pay for needed medical treatment over the prior three months.
2. Skipped prescribed medication due to cost over the prior three months.
3. Unable to afford quality care if it was needed today.