A new poll released today found that an estimated one-third of Americans — approximately 82 million people — indicated that in the past year, they cut back on spending, including skipping meals or driving less, in order to afford their health care. 15% — or 38 million — of Americans said they had borrowed money in the last year to pay their medical bills, and another 11% said they had skipped a meal, while others said they prolonged current drug prescriptions and cut back on utilities. 

Individuals without insurance or who said they were in poor health reported making even larger sacrifices, with 62% of both groups saying they have made at least one sacrifice to pay for their health care, including over 30% of people without insurance who borrowed money. Millions of Americans also postponed life events, such as retiring, buying a new home, and having or adopting a child. 

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump and Republicans made health care for tens of millions of Americans even more unaffordable, as working families are sacrificing basic necessities and forgoing critical life events just to pay their medical bills. Everyday Americans are tired of paying the price of Trump’s massive cuts to their health care, while footing the bill of his disastrous war with Iran and tax cuts for billionaires. While Republicans jeopardize Americans’ lives abroad and at home, Democrats are focused on lowering costs and making life more affordable.” 

Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill gutted Americans’ health care, after they slashed $1 TRILLION from Medicaid, putting over 300 rural hospitals at risk of closure. Then, they refused to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, hiking premiums by an average of 114% for more than 20 million Americans. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials estimated that the cost of the first six days of Trump’s reckless war with Iran exceeded $11.3 billion, nearly enough to extend the ACA tax credits this year.