2024 Trend Report titled 'Top Healthcare Challenges: Americans Intimidated by Unexpected Costs' with a photo of a scientist or healthcare worker using a microscope.

The US healthcare system is intimidating

It isn’t just you. From unexpected costs to deciphering their health benefits, the vast majority of Americans find navigating the US healthcare system daunting.

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“I just don’t like going to the doctor. I find it very, very intimidating. I like to have control over my own body. I don't like people doing tests on me. I don't like being stuck with needles. I don't like people doing exams here and there. I don't like it at all.”

— Research Participant, age 24

Consumers are in the dark about costs

We asked Americans what was intimidating about healthcare, and unexpected healthcare costs topped the list at 59%.

A bar chart illustrating patient feelings about healthcare, with multiple colored bars representing different responses. A quote box at the bottom right states, 'In an ideal world, I would want to have clear cost before any care is given,' attributed to a patient participant.

What’s inside the report?

Everyone’s healthcare experience is different. So in this report we break down the top healthcare challenges by the following key demographic groups:

  • Gender

  • Age

  • Race/Ethnicity

  • Education

  • Employment

  • Disability status

  • LGBTQIA+

  • Geographic community

Bar chart titled 'Statistically significant findings' showing different categories with corresponding percentage values, including categories with various bars in shades of teal, gray, and light blue.

Understand the concerns of modern healthcare consumers

Our results from over 1,200 US respondents give statistically significant answers to what today’s patients really want from healthcare.

A diagram with text showing the combination of quantitative and qualitative primary research by Bixa, including study details, sample size, data sources, and findings, with a central Bixa logo surrounded by descriptive paragraphs.

“Here's the thing about the uncertainty of health costs today: it makes you so frustrated and so nervous. You go in for a treatment or a service, and you're going to be a little bit worse off emotionally after the fact, even if they've helped your health needs. Because then you think, ‘Here comes the bill. Here comes the headache’.”

— Research participant, age 33

Cover page of the 2024 Trend Report titled 'Top Healthcare Challenges: Americans Intimidated by Unexpected Costs' by BIXA, featuring a scientist using a microscope.