At A Glance
Rising healthcare costs refer to the increasing financial burden of medical care for patients and providers, driven by higher service prices, insurance complexity and out-of-pocket expenses. These rising costs are causing patients to delay care, increasing financial strain and creating new challenges for healthcare revenue cycles.
Key takeaways:
- Rising healthcare costs can cause patients to delay or forgo care, with knock-on effects for health outcomes and provider revenue.
- Providers can mitigate these pressures by improving the patient financial experience through accurate, upfront price estimates and personalized payment plans.
- Experian Health’s State of Patient Access survey 2026 shows that more patients are receiving estimates that are easy to understand, clearly itemized and available on mobile.
Healthcare affordability continues to decline as patients struggle with rising costs. Recent KFF polling finds that just under half of Americans find it difficult to pay their medical bills, a proportion that has barely moved over the last few years. Experian Health’s latest State of Patient Access survey (SOPA) confirms the trend, with 38% of patients reporting that the payment experience has deteriorated over the previous year, up from 23% in 2024. Patients point to poor price transparency, confusion over coverage and a lack of payment plans.
Unclear costs leave patients in a tough spot. They may skip appointments, rack up medical debt or sacrifice other basic needs to cover care. This has a significant impact on their health and finances, as well as creating revenue cycle challenges for providers.
This article looks at how climbing costs affect patients and what providers can do to improve the patient financial experience.
How rising healthcare costs are causing patients to delay care
For the fourth year in a row, patients’ top challenge is seeing their doctor quickly. But it’s not always clinical capacity or administrative issues that get in the way of timely care. Many patients put off treatment because they’re worried about how much they’ll have to pay. Forty-one percent of those who think patient access is getting tougher say it’s because they’re in a worse position to afford care, a 215% increase since 2025.
Here are three ways rising costs affect care:
| 1. Patients postpone care due to affordability |
| SOPA finds that around three-quarters of providers have seen patients delay or forfeit care due to cost concerns. This could include postponing wellness checks, which could mean early signs and symptoms of illness are missed. They may hold off filling prescriptions, resulting in poor management of ongoing conditions. Or they may delay treatment for serious illnesses, necessitating more costly and complex treatment down the line. These difficult decisions have worrying consequences for the health and financial well-being of many American households. |
| 2. Lack of cost transparency leads to delayed treatment |
| Patients want upfront, accurate estimates. Surprise medical bills frustrate patients, especially when insurance seems to cover less and out-of-pocket expenses increase. If patients find their estimates difficult to understand or lack confidence in their accuracy, this can prompt them to put off much-needed care. Providers have clearly taken this on board: SOPA shows an encouraging increase in the number of providers offering estimates over the last few years. Patients report improvements in the clarity of estimates, the level of cost breakdown and the availability of digital estimates. |
| 3. Lack of flexible payment options deters patients from seeking care |
| Even with accurate estimates (and even with insurance), many patients need help paying their medical bills. They need access to financial clearance solutions that help them cover medical expenses without going into debt. While some patients benefit from charity options, others want to spread the cost of care over time. Manageable payment plans combined with easy-to-use, secure payment methods make affording care less of a burden. |
Experian Health’s data shows that high-income patients are also concerned with having a seamless payment experience. Meeting their expectations for a more proactive and compassionate financial experience will result in fewer missed appointments and more bills paid on time.
How providers can respond to rising healthcare costs
Here are a few strategies providers can adopt in response:
Improve financial transparency
Eighty-two percent of patients say pre-service estimates help them prepare for the cost of care. This is a priority for providers too, not least because everything that helps patients better understand their financial obligations – faster and more accurate front-end data capture – also helps providers reduce the burden of denied claims.
“Estimates and payments are complicated to unravel for many of our patients. And patients are scared and nervous about procedures. It is helpful to have a simple, clear breakdown of costs to help guide these conversations.”
Marianna Ross, Manager of Customer Services & Financial Counseling, University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC)
Providers should consider digital financial solutions that deliver transparent pricing information to patients. Experian Health’s Patient Payment Estimates generate upfront estimates that include real-time pricing with benefits and discounts factored in. Estimates and secure payment links are automatically sent to patients via text or the web-based app.
Expand digital access and payments
Patients want a frictionless experience, from initial registration through final payment. Offering more digital methods to manage all aspects of their care, including online and mobile payment options, gives patients more choice and control over how and when they handle their health-related admin. Opening the digital front door also frees up staff from burdensome administrative tasks, allowing them to provide more direct patient support where needed.
Automate revenue cycle processes
Providers that use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation throughout the revenue cycle can expect to see even more benefits. For example,Experian Health’s Patient Access Curator (PAC) uses AI to improve front-end data collection. PAC consolidates eligibility verification, insurance discovery and demographic data validation into a single transaction. With better data upfront, providers have a clearer picture of what patients will owe and what should be billed to payers.
Personalize financial pathways
As financial uncertainty persists, a one-size-fits-all approach to billing and collections no longer works. Giving patients options that reflect their ability to pay can make care more accessible and reduce the risk of missed or delayed payments.
Automated tools like Patient Financial Clearance help providers assess a patient’s individual financial situation and connect them to the most appropriate pathway, whether that’s a payment plan, financial assistance, Medicaid or other support programs.
Automate patient collections
Automated healthcare collections also support a more personalized financial experience by helping providers tailor their collections approach to each patient’s specific circumstances. Collections Optimization Manager uses propensity-to-pay models that enable providers to segment and prioritize accounts, so outreach and payment options can be tailored to each patient’s circumstances. Providers can then send automated text reminders or emails to help patients meet payment deadlines, with quick payment links that allow patients to click and pay instantly.
FAQs
Experian Health data shows that rising costs are pushing some patients to delay or forgo care, particularly when they’re unsure what they’ll owe. Affordability concerns can also lead to late or missed payments, resulting in higher levels of bad debt.
Healthcare providers can make care feel more affordable by giving patients clear, personalized cost information upfront and guiding them to the right financial support early in the process. This includes proactively identifying patients who may qualify for charity care or financial assistance, reducing confusion and ensuring eligible individuals aren’t burdened with avoidable costs.
Experian Health solutions, like Patient Payment Estimates, can help deliver more accurate estimates, while Patient Financial Clearance can screen patients for assistance programs and connect them to appropriate payment options sooner in their care journey.
Cost transparency improves patient access by making key front-end processes, like scheduling, registration and financial clearance, more efficient and predictable. When estimates are clear and integrated into the intake workflow, providers can reduce delays, minimize rework and move patients through the access journey more smoothly.
Cost pressures aren’t going away. The providers that stand out will be those that make it easier for patients to understand and plan for what they owe.
Find out more about how simplifying estimates and payments can help providers respond to rising healthcare costs and improve patient experiences.
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