2026 Employee Healthcare Affordability Report

Your employees have insurance. That doesn’t mean they can afford care.

New research from 500 workplace-insured Americans proves the affordability gap is real — and solvable. The 2026 Employee Healthcare Affordability Report reveals the data behind a benefit that drove 78% of employees to get care they otherwise would have skipped.

What you'll find inside:

brown_checkHow one benefit helped 78% of employees get the care they were delaying or skipping.

brown_checkThe measurable impact on retention, productivity, and financial well-being.

brown_checkA practical framework for closing the gap between coverage and care access.

 

No spam. We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.

affordability-image-tiles

Insurance covers the plan. It doesn’t cover the bill.

The Hidden Lives of Workplace Insured Americans research established the crisis: 40% of insured employees skip or delay care because they can’t afford out-of-pocket costs. The 2026 Employee Healthcare Affordability Report answers the next question — what happens when you give employees an easier way to pay?


The answer: they get care. They stay. They show up healthier, more focused, and more loyal. And the proof is in the data.

500

Survey Respondents

95%

Confidence Level

4.38%

Margin of Error

April 2026

Survey Administered

What the data reveals.

500 employees. One clear finding: when you remove the financial barrier to care, everything changes.

78%

Got care they would have otherwise skipped or delayed

Without Paytient, 45% would have delayed treatment, 25% would have received fewer services, and 8% would have gone without care entirely.

97%

Report true peace of mind when paying for healthcare

59% said Paytient significantly reduced their financial stress. Another 38% said it somewhat reduced their stress.

72%

More likely to stay with their current employer

49% declared they are “much more likely” to stay — connecting healthcare affordability directly to retention.

51%

Report being more productive at work

37% credited getting the physical care they needed to stay healthy. 34% were relieved of distracting financial stress.

56%

Overcame financial barriers at the pharmacy

47% filled prescriptions they would have skipped or delayed. 9% took their full prescribed dose instead of rationing.

83%

Used their card beyond standard benefits coverage

Members used Paytient for purchases not covered by their benefits or too expensive to pay at once — extending the true value of employer benefits.

What you’ll find inside.

01

From Crisis to Solution


How the affordability gap identified in the Hidden Lives research is being closed — with data proving 78% of employees got care they would have skipped.

02

The Prescription Problem — Solved


Why 44% of insured employees ration medication due to cost, and how 56% of Paytient members overcame pharmacy barriers.

03

The Real ROI of Benefits


How 83% of employees used their card to extend employer benefits beyond standard coverage — including veterinary care, uncovered treatments, and high-cost services.

 

 

04

Retention That Pays for Itself


The data connecting healthcare affordability to 72% higher retention intent and 51% improved productivity — the workforce stability metrics CFOs care about.

05

Financial Stress, Eliminated


Without a safety net, 41% of employees put medical bills on high-interest credit cards. See how 97% reported reduced financial stress with an alternative.

06

A Framework for Closing the Gap


Why 27% of members gained confidence to choose lower-premium, higher-deductible plans — and what that means for total benefits cost strategy.

 

 

The affordability gap is costing you more than you think.

The Hidden Lives research revealed a crisis hiding in plain sight. The Employee Healthcare Affordability Report proves it’s solvable.

The Problem

block_navy

40% of insured employees skip or delay care due to out-of-pocket costs.


block_navy 44% ration their medication — splitting pills or skipping doses.


block_navy6.3 hours of productivity lost per week from untreated conditions.


block_navy41% resort to high-interest credit cards; 39.9% drain personal savings.


block_navy38% watch their health actively worsen while they wait.

The Proof

brown_check

78% of members got care they would have otherwise skipped.


brown_check56% overcame financial barriers at the pharmacy.


brown_check51% report improved productivity at work.


brown_check97% report reduced financial stress.


brown_check72% are more likely to stay with their employer.

 

Overall, 95.9% of members say Paytient has made their life easier.

Built for the people shaping benefits.

badge

HR and 
benefits leaders


You already know the affordability gap exists. This report gives you the data to prove it — and a framework to solve it. See how 78% of employees got care they were skipping when the financial barrier was removed, and how 72% became more likely to stay.

prescriptions

Benefits consultants
and brokers


Your clients are spending more on benefits every year and still losing employees. This original research quantifies a gap most employers don’t know they have — and positions you with a data-backed solution. Bring this to your next renewal conversation.

account_balance

CFOs and
finance leaders


Without a care affordability solution, 41% of employees resort to high-interest credit cards for medical bills. That financial stress drives 6.3 hours of lost productivity per week. This report maps the full financial picture — and the ROI of solving it.

 

Get the full report.
Free.

See the data. Understand what’s really happening with your benefits investment — and what it takes to close the gap between coverage and care.

No spam. We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.

Paytient Digital Icon Pos Square

 

About Paytient

Paytient provides employees with a more flexible way to pay for healthcare over time — always without interest or fees. This empowers employees to confidently access the healthcare they need when they need it without the burden of immediate out-of-pocket costs — bridging the gap between having coverage and affording care.


Paytient is proving to be an invaluable benefit that makes it easier for employees to pay for, save on and, ultimately, access the healthcare they need for a healthier, more productive life.